Aside for the exhibit and superhero transformation that the children’s room will undergo, a number of special activities and events will be held this summer in conjunction with the program. A Special Heroes Reception is being held on a Saturday evening in June to kickoff the program for special needs children and their families. The reception will be a time where library staff can welcome these families to the library for exploration and enjoyment during a less-crowded time. Other programs include everything from preschool puppet shows featuring community heroes to a Meet and Greet Comic Book Creators events.

“Be a Hero: Read” will use the help of community volunteers, wearing hero capes none the less, to serve as real-life heroes as they bring the exhibit to life. The program will be presented at all of the elementary schools in the area, with special efforts being aimed at low-income schools who traditionally have less participation in the library’s summer reading program. To encourage friendly, interschool competition, two traveling trophies will be awarded at the end of the program. Both small schools and large school have the chance to win a one-year opportunity to display an oversized trophy for having the highest percentage of their student body complete the reading program.