Contacts: Chris Boivin, (904) 255-6106
Cell: (904) 759-5643, cboivin@coj.net
Jeremy Yates, (904) 255-6111
Make the Library Part of Your Summer and Keep Young Minds Active and Entertained!
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 17, 2023 - From June 1 through August 12, residents of all ages are encouraged to visit their favorite Jacksonville Public Library location for a summer full of reading and other book-related challenges, fun and educational programs, weekly drop-in activities, scavenger hunts, and more! All of the programs are free and open to everyone.
Get your summer prize books (while supplies last)! Join us at a Drop-In Summer Kick-Off Party (June 1-9) to get a free book to start building your home libraries! Thanks to Tenikka's Books For Kids annual book drive as well as generous donations from the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library and others, you can choose among everything from board books and picture books for the littlest readers to chapter books and graphic novels for teens. Plus, it's a great time to sign up everyone in the family for their own library card so they can meet their summer reading goals! For more reading challenges and the chance to win more prizes, be sure to pick up a Bingo Card or Summer Passport while you're there.
WHAT: Drop-In Summer Kick-Off Party
WHERE: All 21 Jacksonville Public Library locations
WHEN: June 1-9
HOW: Visit https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/summer-learning to find the location/date/time that works for you!
WHO: Free and open to all
Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained? Live from the Library brings live animals shows, drummers, scientists, magicians and other fun special guests to your local Jacksonville Public Library, June through July. You can also find special JaxKids Book Club Storytimes, Junior Scientists, Junior Artists and more at https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/kids. For teen programs and services or to learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/teens.
Adults can get in on the summer fun by joining Jax Stacks, the Library's year-round reading challenge for adults or one of our many Book Clubs. There will also be Lit Chat Author Interviews, Writer's Lab workshops, History Chats and more opportunities for reading, learning and fun throughout the summer!
Want to stay in the know? Sign up one of our email newsletters at https://bit.ly/JaxLibraryUpdates.
To help ensure that kids don't go hungry while school is out of session, free and nutritious meals will be available for children and teens (18 and younger) at several locations, including many Jacksonville Public Library locations, starting June 5, 2023. No signup or application is necessary.
While children are at the library eating lunch, they can check out books and participate in other fun activities the library hosts throughout the summer such as storytimes, drop-in crafts, Live from the Library performances and other great summer learning opportunities.
WHAT: FREE Summer Lunch at the Library
WHERE: Main Library’s Conference Center (Multipurpose Room)
WHEN: June 5 through August 4, Monday-Friday
HOW: Visit https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/summerlunch for participating locations and meal times
WHO: Any child 18 or younger who shows up at the library during meal times
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For other locations and updates, please visit www.summerbreakspot.org, call 211, or text FOOD to 304-304. SFSP is funded by the USDA and coordinated through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida this year.
Read Every Day
We know the importance of reading and how it can set children on the path to success. Studies show that kids can lose significant knowledge in reading and math over summer break without opportunities to maintain some basic literacy skills.
That is why Jacksonville Public Library is a proud member of ReadJax, a community effort to improve third-grade reading outcomes. We’ve also adopted the slogan "Twenty Minutes a Day Paves the Way" because research has shown that reading (and being read to) just 20 minutes a day can:
- Provide time for parents and caregivers to bond with children
- Expose children to as many 1.8 million words per year
- Help students reach the 90th percentile on standardized tests
- Improve listening skills
- Prepare pre-kindergartners for school
- Improve your child's earning potential later in life
- Lead to healthier lives.
