The Friends of the Tonganoxie Public Library will host a kick-off celebration from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the library, Third and Bury, for its third annual adult winter reading program: “Do You Really Need a Reason to Read?”

The organization will provide bagels and juice at the library to begin the program, which requires people to read four books between Saturday and March 17.

“The goal is to reward people for recreational reading,” Moreland said. “And use the criteria to gently nudge people to read outside their comfort zone.”

Prizes for completing the program include bistro mugs, book lights, coasters and hand-made bookmarks.

Readers may choose one of four programs: enjoyment, exploration, information and participation, which carry various reading requirements.

On Saturday, library officials were at B&J Country Mart promoting the reading program. Moreland said several interested people stopped by to learn about the winter program.

“A lot of my regulars, but also a lot of people who were readers, but didn’t necessarily use the library,” Moreland explained.

Although the program is referred to as adult reading time, it is open to anyone 16 or older.

For more information, contact the library at (913) 845-3281 or log on to the library’s Web site at www.tonganoxielibrary.org.