PARIS – The Hamlin Memorial Library and the Paris Public Library invite all community children, ages 5 to 13, to participate in the Literacy Lottery this summer.

As an alternative to the traditional summer reading program, in the literacy lottery, for each age-appropriate book a child reads, the child will receive a chance for one of the summer reading drawings.

There will be two drawings in this year’s contest, and prizes will be awarded for each grade level first through seventh. The first drawing will be on July 16 when winners will receive a copy of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” The second drawing will be on Aug. 31 when the prizes will be $25 worth of books a winner may select and order through the Paris Public Library.

Entries to the contest may be submitted to either the Hamlin Memorial Library or the Paris Public Library. The books read do not have to be library books but do have to be appropriate to the child’s grade.

The more books a child reads, the better chance of winning, but children may still win even if they submit a single entry. Chances will be given to participants after they fill out a brief form about the book they read, answering a few questions.

The libraries’ staff will randomly verify submissions. Winners of the first drawing may choose an alternative book or books as their prize.

To encourage children to visit either of the libraries this summer, the libraries are also issuing Summer Reading Program 2005 tickets, which may be redeemed for a prize, through Aug. 31, when a child visits one of the two libraries and borrows a book.

For more information, call the Hamlin Memorial Library and Museum at 743-2980 or the Paris Public Library at 743-6994. E-mail questions may be sent to paris.public.library@MSLN.net or hamlinstaff@hamlin.lib.me.us.