Library Spotlight: Dive Into Summer Reading at BHC!
Summer is here, and that means it’s time to relax, recharge—and read! The Black Hawk College Summer Reading Challenge 2025 is officially underway, and we’re inviting all students, faculty, and staff to join in.
Whether you’re soaking up the sun with a new beach read, binging a chilling horror story in the A/C, or finally cracking open that nonfiction title you’ve been eyeing, any kind of reading counts. The best part? You could win prizes just for doing it.
How It Works
The challenge runs from May 12 – August 18, 2025. All you have to do is read and track your books to participate. There are two ways to win:
Be the top reader on your campus. The person who logs the most books at each campus will take home bragging rights and a prize!
Earn raffle entries. For every book you log (up to 10), you’ll earn one entry into our monthly and end-of-summer prize drawings.
Submit your Summer Reading Log online using this form, by email (to Cat or Atticus), or in person at either library location. Submit at any point during the challenge, we’ll hold prize drawings at the end of each month!
Looking for a Twist? Try the Challenge Sheet!
If you’re the adventurous type, pick up a Summer Reading Challenge Sheet to try out some fun themed reading prompts—like reading a book with a one-word title or picking something outside your usual genre. This part isn’t tied to prizes this year, but it’s a great way to shake up your reading list.
Looking for Recommendations? Check out our Book Club Library Guide!
https://bhc.libguides.com/bookclub
Ready to Join?
Stop by the Quad Cities or East Campus Library to grab a log and get started, or fill one out virtually. However you read and wherever you read, we hope you’ll join us for a summer full of stories, imagination, and maybe a prize or two.
Happy reading, Black Hawk!
Meet Cat Broady, the Reference and Instruction Librarian for the East Campus Library at Black Hawk College. From answering unique research questions to teaching essential information skills, Cat does it all!
What Does Cat Do at the Library?
Cat’s role at the East Campus Library is versatile. She provides one-on-one research help, answers chat and email questions, assists with tech issues, and conducts instructional sessions for classes, both online and in person. Her instruction sessions cover everything from using library databases and evaluating sources to mastering citation skills. She also builds research guides, creates tutorials, and helps select materials for the library’s collection.
A Unique Research Challenge
“One particularly interesting research questions from a student was on a specific medical condition in lizards. We have a lot of resources on cats, dogs, horses, and various livestock, but for this, I had a do a bit more digging to find the right search term to get articles about it. In general, the Vet Tech or Ag questions are fun ones to take a deep dive into and I usually learn something interesting during the search.”
Favorite Library Services
Two of Cat’s favorite library services are the Chilton Library database and the Libby Graphic Novel collection:
How to Reach Cat
Need help with research, or anything library-related? Are you a faculty member looking for Cat to lead an instruction session? You can find Cat at the East Campus Library or reach her via email at broadyc@bhc.edu.
Fun Fact About Cat
Cat’s undergraduate degree is in archaeology, and she even participated in a summer excavation in Greece! She loves ancient history and learning about how people lived centuries ago. For fellow classics enthusiasts, her favorite ancient Roman authors are Ovid and Suetonius.
Cat’s Favorite Books
An avid reader, Cat’s favorites include Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.