Summer Reading Has Gone Social

School's officially out, with the last days for and districts taking place last week.

It's a long tradition for many to head out to the local library and pick up a list of summer reading to keep the kids flexing their brainpower. Now, the handwritten lists have been exchanged for something a little more Silicon Valley.

The Santa Clara Libraries Summer Reading program now offers both children and adults a social form to not only read their books, but keep track of them, review them and share with friends. Options include creating your own avatar, earn badges for activities completed and create your own book lists.

"This is the kind of thing that is happening today," says Campbell Community Librarian . "People want to have some kind of interaction with it."

The program kicked off June 1 but goes through August, and every child that participates receives a paperback that can be picked up between August 2 and 31.

If readers sign up with the as their "home" library, teens and adults will be automatically entered for a chance to win a Nook or Kindle.

Teens and adults also receive a folder of activities that they could enjoy during the summer, a magnet and USB stick. Children receive a bookmark and a chance to pen their art in the community mural.

Whether you have a library card or not, anyone is able to participate, Houts says.

"We hope to have lots of people join our club and continue to read over the summer," she says.