The Queen Anne’s County Free Library is partnering with Governor Martin O’Malley, the Maryland State Education Agency, the Division of Library Development and Services, and the Maryland Library Association to launch, “30 Minutes in 30 Days,” a program that will be implemented throughout March in celebration of Read Across Maryland, an expansion of Read Across America.

The program challenges readers of all ages to read, or be read to, for thirty minutes every day from March 2-31, 2010.

This could include parents and caregivers reading to children, older children reading to younger children, and teachers or librarians reading to students.

To support the “30 Minutes in 30 Days Initiative,” the Queen Anne’s County Public Library features a program every day from March 2-31.

Kicking off the month is a visit from author and illustrator Laura Vaccaro Seeger at the Kent Island Library on Tuesday, March 2. The Caldecott-honoree will speak to 7 kindergarten classes.

Storytimes for pre-schools will be held on Wednesday mornings throughout March at 10:30 a.m. at the Centreville Library, 121 S. Commerce St. The series begins with a “Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss” event on March 3.

ABC Storytimes for ages 3 through 5 and their caregivers will be held each Thursday morning in March and April at the Kent Island Library, 200 Library Circle, Stevensville. Mother Goose on the Loose, a nursery-rhyme program for babies and toddlers resumes on March 19 at 9:45 and 11:00 a.m. and continues on Friday mornings through April at Kent Island.

On Saturday mornings, the libraries will host a 30-minute Read-a-Rama for all ages in the children’s rooms. Times are 11:00 a.m. on March 13 and March 27 in Centreville and March 6 at 11:30 a.m. and March 20 at 9:30 a.m. at Kent Island.
For older readers, Kent Island Library introduces Another Time and Place, Read-Aloud Adventures for grades 5-8 at 4:30 p.m. on Mondays from March 8 through March 29.

Special programs at the Kent Island Library include a Lego book challenge on Friday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. and Lunch Out Loud on Wednesday, March 31 at 12 noon. Special programs at the Centreville Library are Read Around the Mulberry Bush on Friday, March 5 at 10:30 a.m. and Fairy Tale Follies on Tuesday, March 23 at 10:30 a.m.

In addition, two readers from across the state will win a brand new Kindle electronic reading device from Amazon.

Information on entering the statewide drawing, a complete calendar of events, and “30 Minutes for 30 Days” calendars to track time spent reading are available at the library.

All library programs are free of charge. Pre-registration is required for Lego programs. To register or receive more information about library programs, please call the libraries at 410-643-8161 or 410-758-0980.