The ICfL is excited to launch another year of the Idaho Teen Reading Challenge (ITRC), with a whole new look! Based on feedback from last year’s evaluations, we have revamped the logo and materials for the ITRC to be more appealing to teens. This program is a tool for library staff to engage with teens and encourage them to read outside of their comfort zone. There are 10 categories to choose from, and teens only need to read from eight categories to complete the challenge. This year’s categories are: New Genre; Sports Book; Memoir/Biography; Same Book as a Friend; Setting You Want to Visit; Mystery; 1-Star Review; Look to the Future; Help Yourself; and Free Choice.

Here’s how the program works:

  1. The Challenge runs from October – April (seven months). Teens are challenged to read one book from eight different categories (eight books total) during that time.
  2. Beginning today, you can register your library to participate in the program and request bookmarks, tracking forms, and reading journals. Many libraries pre-registered when they filled out their evaluations last spring – you can see if your library is already registered here. New this year: The ICfL will send every participating library two 8.5 x 11” posters to advertise the program. You can print off additional posters from the ITRC website.
  3. After you receive your Challenge materials, you can give teens a tracking form to keep track of the books they have read, or you can choose to keep the tracking sheets at the library for students to fill out. You can also hand out bookmarks and reading journals.
  4. When a teen has completed the Challenge, they can return their tracking sheet to the library. You will need to keep track of how many teens from your library complete the Challenge. As an incentive for finishing: We will send you custom vinyl stickers to hand out to kids who complete the challenge. Also, every teen who finishes the Challenge earns a chance for your library to receive free books in a drawing next May.
  5. In May, participating libraries will be sent a form to submit the total number of teens who completed the Challenge at your library and some quick feedback about the program.

Want to learn more? Check out the Idaho Teen Reading Challenge Info Session on Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. PT. We will accept registrations through October 18, but if you want to start the challenge on October 1, register soon!