Summer Reading 2026
- Derrick Larcom
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Something BIG is stomping its way to Ottawa Library. This year, we are going back in time to Unearth a Story™. Whether you're a tiny triceratops or sophisticated stegosaurus, our Summer Reading Challege has something for you! Grab your excavation tools (okey, just your library card) and get ready to dig into some legenary adventures.
Logging your reading
Register & join the summer reading challenge on Beanstack that is the right fit for you and/or your child. Logging of reading and activities begins May 18th, but prizes won't start until May 26th.
Ages 0-5 Summer Reading (Logging Books)
Participate in our reading challenge by logging your books every time you read or someone reads to you. You will earn a prize every 25 books that you read until you complete the challenge at 100 books! Simply read your books, keep track, and then visit the library to collect your prizes! Once you've completed the challenge (100 books), you will receive a certificate of completion, a free book, and an invitation to our End-of-Summer Reading Pool Party on July 10th (while supplies last). Don't forget about the fun activities! For every activity badge you complete, you earn a virtual ticket that you can use to enter one of our weekly family prize drawings. You can put all your tickets into one drawing or spread your chances among them all. Let the summer adventures begin!
Ages 0-12 Summer Reading (Logging Minutes)
Participate in our reading challenge by logging in minutes every time you read or someone reads to you. You will earn a badge every 30 minutes and a prize every 60 minutes until you complete the challenge at 750 minutes! Simply set a timer and log how long you read. Then visit the library to collect your prizes! Once you've completed the challenge (750 minutes), you will receive a certificate of completion, a free book, and an invitation to our end-of-summer reading Pool Party on July 10th (while supplies last). After that, you can continue reading and earn a prize every 120 minutes of reading! Don't forget about the fun activities! For every activity badge you complete, you earn a virtual ticket that you can use to enter one of our weekly family prize drawings. You can put all your tickets into one drawing or spread your chances among them all. Let the summer adventures begin!
Ages 0-12 Summer Reading (Logging Minutes)
Ages 12-18 join the Summer Reading Challenge for a chance to win awesome prizes! Track your reading and complete fun activities to earn virtual badges, prizes, and entries into our grand prize drawing—a $50 Walmart gift card! Here’s how it works: • Every 90 minutes of reading = Pick a prize at the library! Choose from local gift cards, books, snacks, and more. • Each reading or activity badge you earn = One entry into the $50 Walmart gift card drawing. • Read at least 1,020 minutes by July 10th = You’ll be invited to our exclusive End-of-Summer Pool Party! (Spots are limited—don’t miss out!) The more you read and participate, the more prizes you can earn—and the better your chances at the grand prize!
Adult Summer Reading (Logging Hours)
Our theme this summer is "Unearth Your Story". There will be several activities that you may complete and you can log all of your reading hours here on the Adult SR Challenge. Logging every 5 hours, up to a total of 40 hours for the summer. We will read 2 books and have discussions on them this summer. You do not have to read both to earn badges, but if you want to do both, you have that choice. "The Names" by Florence Knapp and "The Jackals Mistress" (in honor of America's 250th, United States Semiquincentennial this year)will be our book choices. Books will be available through our library check out system, several will be reserved for the summer. Prizes are won by registering, logging reading and participating in activities. We will choose five randomly selected winners each week. There will also be a Mega prize and a large prize offered at the End of Adult Summer Reading Party. We have a variety of fun programs for adults this season.
Kick-Off & Events
This year our Kick-Off Celebration Resource Fair will be held Wednesday, May 27th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Library Parking Lot. We are excited to announce that we are partnering with Franklin County Health Department who will be hosing their Community Baby Shower during our Resoruce Fair. Expect everything you know and love (games, snow cones, inflatables, activities, and local organization) with a few new organizations joining to help expand our resources and connections for families.
See the Kick-Off Celebration event on Facebook and on LibCal for additional details.
A full list of our events can be found here on our events calendar.
