The reading game

The Santa Clara County Library District is encouraging patrons to press “start” on its summer reading program, “Level Up at Your Library,” at its branch libraries including Los Altos.

.According to the California Library Association, summer reading programs help children and teens retain and enhance their reading skills over the summer and benefit adults by stimulating the brain, increasing vocabulary and sparking imagination.

Library patrons can register at sccl.beanstack.com/reader365 to earn a prize for reading five books and completing an activity. “Level Up at Your Library” runs through July 31. Completion prizes will be available Aug. 1-31 while supplies last. For more information, visit sccld.org/summer

County libraries are also hosting free programs throughout the summer. Highlights include watercoloring classes for kids, teens and adults; special performances; virtual author visits; and a Science Heroes program for kids and teens. For more information, visit https://sccl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events.

Humanities internships

The Foothill-De Anza Community College District has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to launch the Humanities Scholars Work Experience. This program will provide 250 students with paid internships in humanities-related fields in the next four years.

These internships, paid at $20 per hour, are intended to give students insight into humanities-based career opportunities and help them gain an edge in transferring to four-year colleges.

For more information, email Dr. Falk Cammin at [email protected].