#Adventure Begins... with Reading!
Make the Library - and reading - part of your summer from June 3 through August 3! Our theme this year, Adventure Begins at Your Library, invites you to read, play and explore together with interactive performances, fun programs, hands-on activities, and, of course, all kinds of books!
Pick Up Your Prize Book!
Kids and teens: Be sure to pick up your FREE summer prize book so you can start or continue to build your own home library (while supplies last)! All you have to do is join us at one of our Drop-In Summer Kick-Off Parties, happening June 3-8 at all 21 Jacksonville Public Library locations.
- Find the Kick-Off Party nearest you: jaxlibrary.org/summer
- Never miss a program or event: bit.ly/JaxLibraryUpdates
Reading Challenges, Bingo Cards, and More!
Want more challenges and the chance to earn even more prizes? Pick up a Bingo Card or Summer Passport (at the Kick-Off Party or anytime during the summer). You'll cross off a square for things like checking out an e-book, attending a program, or getting a book recommendation from your favorite librarian! Just be sure to return your completed Bingo Cards and Summer Passports before July 27.
#Books We Recommend
Early Childhood (Birth - Age 5)
Children who have been read to from an early age have a larger vocabulary, acquire better language skills, and are more likely to want to learn to read than children who have not.
Elementary Kids (ages 6-10)
Research shows that summer library programs can help prevent summer learning loss and set kids up for future reading and academic success.
Middle Grades (ages 11-14)
One of the many values of reading is that it can help young people discover possible futures for themselves. A well-stocked library, complete with both fiction and nonfiction, can help teens fully explore their potential.
Teens (ages 15-18)
One of the many values of reading is that it can help young people discover possible futures for themselves. A well-stocked library, complete with both fiction and nonfiction, can help teens fully explore their potential.
Adult Readers
Summer is the perfect opportunity to have fun, explore new interests, and interact with fellow readers - all while providing a good model for children enrolled in summer reading programs.
Get More Book Recommendations
Throughout the summer, you'll find great, themed books on display and hear amazing stories of adventure at storytimes and other library programs (for all ages)! If you're looking for even more book recommendations, you can always Request a Personalized Booklist from library staff or get the hottest titles in your favorite genres sent right to your inbox with The Book Hookup. It's all FREE!
For a DIY experience, NoveList Plus helps parents, teachers, and librarians improve literacy and engage young readers. You can find read-a-likes for popular books and series, search by grade or reading level, or find books based on a genre and theme.
For adults, we're continuing our Jax Stacks year-round reading challenge! And more prizes (including Jax Stacks branded swag) are on the way. So, summer is a great time to complete those Jax Stacks bookmarks! There are also monthly book recommendations and a Virtual Book Club to help you out.
#Read 20 Minutes Per Day
Jacksonville Public Library is a proud member of ReadJax, a community effort to improve third-grade reading outcomes. Throughout the summer, you'll find great, themed books on display and hear amazing stories of adventure at storytimes and other library programs (for all ages)! 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
- Prepare pre-kindergartners for school
Let's Get DUUUVAL Reading!
You'll also find great book recommendations and reading-related challenges when you download Beanstack and sign up for Mayor Deegan's River City Readers citywide literacy challenge! With the Beanstack app, it's easier than ever before to keep track of your reading. All you have to do is read at least 20 minutes per day and log those reading minutes online. You'll be awarded digital badges for logging multiple days in a row and for completing other reading-related activities. At the end of the year, the city’s top young readers will be given prizes!
Getting Started
- Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Download and open the Beanstack Tracker app.
- Choose At my library, school or bookstore.
- Using the Find a Site search bar, type Jax Library or River City Readers
- Select Jax Library River City Readers (FL).
If you're visiting us in person this summer, you're sure to come across posters, bookmarks, and other marketing materials promoting the Adventure Begins at Your Library theme featuring the beautiful artwork by Juana Martinez-Neal & Rob Donnelly. Please note: ADVENTURE BEGINS AT YOUR LIBRARY™ is a Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) trademark which may only be used with prior written permission.
