From Reading District Libraries
Photo courtesy of 2Photo Pots on Unsplash
This summer, Berks County readers are invited to help a shelter pet find a forever home — simply by reading.
The fourth annual Pages for Pets program challenges the community to read a collective 500,000 minutes, unlocking a fully sponsored adoption for one lucky animal at Humane Pennsylvania.
Hosted by Reading District Libraries, the program enters its fourth year with a new animal welfare partner, Humane Pennsylvania, and continues to run alongside the library’s annual summer learning initiative.
From Monday, June 22, through Friday, July 24, readers of all ages are encouraged to log their reading and help the community reach its goal. Participants are free to read whatever they enjoy, including novels, eBooks, audiobooks, comics and graphic novels, newspapers, magazines, and more. Every minute read contributes toward sponsoring the adoption fee of a shelter pet.
On Monday, Aug. 3, Humane Pennsylvania will reveal the pet whose adoption was made possible through the community’s reading efforts.
“For many of our youngest readers, Pages for Pets may be their first experience participating in a community cause,” said Marissa Guidara, Youth Services District Consultant for Reading District Libraries. “By working together toward a shared goal, participants learn that even small actions can have a meaningful impact. It’s a fun way to encourage reading while showing how a community can come together to support a cause they care about.”
Since its launch in 2023, Pages for Pets has inspired thousands of readers across Berks County to support local shelter animals through reading. Together, readers have logged more than 1.7 million minutes. Previous sponsored pets have included Agent 007, a senior black cat; Egypt, a one-year-old pit bull; and Weebles, a two-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier. All three found forever homes following the program.
In addition to Pages for Pets, all 25 library locations in Berks County will offer free summer learning programs featuring activities, events, and reading challenges for children, teens, and adults.
Readers can track their progress and learn more about the challenge at readingpubliclibrary.org/pages-for-pets.
