#Fun Shows, Hands-On Activities & More
Adventure begins at your Library this summer! Take part in fun and educational programs, weekly drop-in activities, reading challenges, and more! Your summer of reading, learning, and fun starts June 3 - August 3. It's all 100% FREE, all summer long!
#Start Your Adventure!
#Your New Favorite Performance Venue
Ready for something magical, inspiring, and a whole lot of fun? Live from the Library is a series of engaging and educational performances - happening all summer long at your local libraries! Designed for children ages 5-12 and their families, you'll meet and learn from exciting musicians, clever scientists, caring animal handlers, crafty magicians, and more!
Please note: Attendance is limited and is first-come, first-served. Please arrive early. Check-in starts 30 minutes prior to the start of the program.
More to Explore
Want book recommendations inspired by your favorite Live from the Library show? Check out our Live from the Library blog for books about animals, magic, science, and music!
#Find Programs, Activities, and Resources For Your Age Group:
Want an Extra Challenge and More Prizes?
Pick up a Bingo Card or Summer Passport at your Library anytime during the summer. Then, check off a square for things like checking out an e-book, attending a program, or getting a book recommendation from a librarian! Just be sure to return your completed Bingo Cards and Summer Passports before July 27 for fun prizes and incentives.
#Read 20 Minutes a 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
Join the Mayor's Reading Challenge
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).
Early Literacy
JaxKids Book Club provides free books for all Duval County preschoolers that families can keep and use at home to build early literacy skills and foster a love of reading. In the pages of these colorful books, children will find familiar landmarks and locations around Jacksonville, while also developing the skills necessary to ensure they become strong readers. If your four-year-old rising kindergartener did not receive their JaxKids Book Club backpack at a Voluntary Pre-K Center, pick one up at your local library this summer. You can also reach out at JaxKidsBookClub@coj.net.
This summer, explore Jacksonville and these special books through our fun and interactive JaxKids Book Club Summer Storytime series. Even if your little one isn't in Pre-K yet, all JaxKids books are available to check out through the Library catalog. Find your favorite today!
Want More Book Recommendations?
If you don't have time to browse, you can always:
- Visit jaxlibrary.org/suggestions
- Request a Personalized Booklist from Library staff
- Get the hottest titles in your favorite genres sent right to your inbox with The Book Hookup
- Join our Jax Stacks year-round reading challenge for adults
#Looking for more ideas?
Enroll in Library Academy! Not only will you get reminders about upcoming library programs but you'll also receive age-appropriate book recommendations and tips for talking about books. Plus, there are fun craft ideas, games and other at-home activities that you can do as a family.
