It’s fairly agreed that the ability to read is important in today’s world. Everyone wants to see all our children be good readers.

That’s why public libraries, for many years, have tried to make the library an inviting place for children, especially during the summer. Librarians want reading, discovery and learning to be, if not enjoyable at first, at least seen as a rewarding task, and, if possible, to become an honest-to-goodness pleasure.

All the public libraries in the area have summer reading programs. To participate in a reading club, students don’t need to attend programs, just keep a log of books read. Prizes are usually available. As long as you bring books back on time, all the books are free to read. It’s a good deal with a great return to the entire community. And, if your child is still a preschooler, check out the story times at the library throughout the year.

Here are just a few of the summer programs offered in our area this summer.

Brewer Public Library’s summer program is titled “Read a Whale of a Tale at your Library!” For more information, call the library at 989-7943.

Registration is June 28-July 2. Special events include:

. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, Tony the Bugman.

. 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, Kevin Duplisse.

. 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 13, Meri Show.

. 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, Chrystal Clear Pets.

. 10 a.m. Thursday, July 29, Chewonki.

. 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 6, final party with Zachary Field.

In Hampden, the Edythe Dyer Community Library’s reading club is “Discover New Trails @Your Library.” The club is open to preschoolers through eighth-graders. For more information, call the library at 862-3550. Special events include:

. 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 1, Horses, Horses.

. 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 8, Milkweed Puppets.

. 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 15, Miss Bindergarten.

. 3 p.m. Thursday, July 22, Rhythm Inlet.

. 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 29, Ye Old Trading Post.

. 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, Northern Stars Planetarium.

. 3p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, Party.

Orono Public Library’s program is “Discover New Trails. Read!” The program runs June 21-Aug. 20. Children in preschool through fifth grade are welcome to join the summer reading program. Each child receives his own lanyard and trails booklet. Each completed page earns a prize.

Special events for youngsters in second grade and up include:

. 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, Nature and Scavenger Hunt.

. 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 14, Movie Day, “A Bug’s Life.”

. 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, July 27, The Butterfly Guy.

. 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, Little Red Wagon Theater, “The Dancing Spider.”

. 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, Movie Day, “Fievel Goes West.”

Participants are invited to bring lunch and have fun. Also in Orono, pupils in grades six and higher are invited to read books, attend programs and earn prizes. Students are invited to register at the library and get a carabiner and a reading ticket. For more information call the Orono Public Library at 866-5060.

The Bangor Public Library’s Summer Program is called “Get Real,” featuring seven weeks of summer fun with books on every subject under the sun and beyond. The program is for those ages 14 and younger. Something is going on every day, Monday through Friday, at the library, and it’s all free.

The school with the highest participation rate in the library’s reading club will win an after-hours party for the students, families and staff of the winning school. Special programs at the library include:

. 10 a.m. Thursday, July 1, Roy Gallant, Maine author.

. 10, a.m. Tuesday, July 6, Donn Fendler, author, “Lost on a Mountain in Maine.”

. 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 13, Dino Days with Professor Tom Kellogg.

. 10 a.m. Thursday, July 15, Cave Man Look-alike Contest.

. 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers.

. 10 a.m. Thursday, July 29, Service Dog Rally with Shelley.

. 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, Arpilleras with PICA.

. 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, Artful Food with Carmen Montes.

. 10 a.m. Friday, Aug 6, Gussie Vaughan, storyteller.

Barbara McDade is director of the Bangor Public Library at 145 Harlow St. For information, call 947-8336.