# Color Your World... with Reading!
Make the Library - and reading - part of your summer from June 2 through August 2! Our theme this year, Color Our World, invites you to embark on a journey of art and creativity through fantastic stories, interactive performances, fun programs, and hands-on activities.
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 2-7 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!
Don't forget to pick up your 2025 Summer Reading Tracker at a Drop-In Summer Kick-Off Party or on your next visit! Read for at least 20 minutes per day for 20 days and return your tracker(s) to the Library by August 2 to earn your next prize book! Many locations will also host Scavenger Hunts or give out Bingo Cards that, when completed, reward participants with a variety of goodies. Prizes and incentives will vary by location. Please ask your neighborhood librarian for more details.
Get More Book Recommendations
Throughout the summer, you'll find great, themed books on display (for all ages) at the Library! If you don't find something that sparks your interest, don't be afraid to talk to your librarian. You can also Request a Personalized Booklist from our "Book Finder" team 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!
Research shows that summer library programs can help prevent summer learning loss and set kids up for future reading and academic success. 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. Summer is also the perfect opportunity to have fun, explore new interests, and interact with fellow readers.
# 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 DUVAL 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).
