BY ALICE THOMAS

Special to The Pilot

Looking for a challenge before summer's end? Pick up a Beach Blanket Bingo card at Southern Pines Public Library and start reading!

The game involves reading different genres of literature in order to mark them on a bingo card.

In addition to reading, spaces may also be filled in for attending library programs, reserving a book online or watching a DVD from the library's collection.

Once participants complete five across, down or diagonally they will win a free cup of coffee from one of several local coffee shops, including >The Coffee Cabin, Frankie's Southern Grinds or Java Bean Plantation.

Participants may choose to >complete the entire >card in order to win a canvas tote bag, courtesy of the Friends of the Library.

All winning cards will also be eligible to win a grand prize of a $50 gift card to The Country Bookshop. The drawing will be held after the bingo game concludes on Aug. 20.

"The purpose is to promote the joy of reading, but it's also getting adults to read outside their comfort zone," says a library spokesperson. "Sometimes people get so locked into reading one genre, like mysteries, that they forget about the true crime books, biographies or even cookbooks.

"We aso want to make the public aware of everything the library has to offer in addition to books - the DVDs, programs, magazines and books on CD."

Library patron Maryann Sarno usually sticks to reading nonfiction, which is why the bingo game appealed to her.

"I've enjoyed the challenge of reading the variety of books," she says. "I'm really looking forward to the science fiction because it's something I haven't read in a long time."

The other reason she signed up?

"I'm here all the time anyway, and it looked like fun," she says.

Players must be 18 or older to participate, and all items must be checked out from Southern Pines Public Library.

For additional rules and information or to print out a bingo card from home, visit www.sppl.net.

Alice Thomas is the assistant director for public services for the Southern Pines Public Library.