With summer just around the corner, many parents are probably wondering how to keep kids busy, as well as engaged with all of the learning they’ve accomplished over the last school year. Look no further than your local library for great options that are both entertaining and educational. Summer reading has been proven to help kids both maintain and enhance their reading skills, not to mention, a great book is just a lovely way to spend a summer afternoon. Read on to see what summer reading programs are offered locally in 2025.
Springfield’s Lincoln Library
Keep an eye on Springfield’s Lincoln Library website to benefit from all of the downtown library’s free summer programming. This year, that includes a weekly Monday Movie Matinee (popcorn will be provided), take-home craft kits every Saturday, pop-up libraries at local parks and the YMCA, ongoing kids crafts and activities, plus story times for the younger set.
Chatham Area Public Library
The Chatham Public Library encourages its readers of all ages to track their reading on the Beanstack website throughout June and July. Busy readers receive prizes for every 100 or 150 minutes read (choose the amount of time that is best for your reader). Your youngest readers, from birth through age 3, can participate in Chatham’s Rubber Ducky Club. When your toddlers read 30 books with a family member, they will receive a rubber duck as a reward.
The Chatham Public Library will also offer BookCamp this summer for children ages 4 years old to fourth grade. BookCamp sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes each day for three days and feature age-appropriate games, crafts and reading activities.
Lastly, Chatham’s summer reading program even includes adults. Just like the kids, adults can log their completed books on the Beanstalk site to receive virtual tickets which will enter them into a raffle to win gift cards to local businesses.
Sherman Public Library
This year, the summer reading theme at the Sherman Public Library is “Level Up at Your Library!” Kids will complete a game board where they set their own reading goals to get prizes. Throughout the months of June and July, kids can search for the summer reading mascot, Gordon the Tapir, for weekly prizes and can collaborate with other kids week after week by adding colored squares to a giant mosaic poster to reveal an image.
The fun starts with a summer reading kick-off party from 5-7 p.m. on May 30. The kick-off party will feature live jazz music, a food truck and mobile bar, pictures with Bluey, outdoor games and crafts and Scouting For America’s Vortex S.T.R.E.A.M. machine. Grab a calendar at the kick-off (or look online if you can’t make it), because the Sherman Public Library hosts a lot of performers and has tons of fun, frequent programming throughout the entire summer.
Rochester Public Library District
The Rochester Library will kick off summer youth programming on June 5 with a fun and energetic game show for all ages, hosted by Dennis from Happy Face Entertainment. Other special programming spanning the summer includes weekly movies and other headliners like Wild Times Exotics and a special demonstration by the local Phoenix Tears LARP Group.
Rochester offers adult programs as well. Adults can set reading goals while participating in programs such as partner dance classes and self-care courses.
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble is encouraging children in their pursuit of summer reading gains. If your kid reads any books (library books, books borrowed from friends or books bought at Barnes & Noble all count) and then writes about their favorite part in the Barnes & Noble Reading Journal, they can choose a free book from the store during July and August. Book lists (by grade) and Reading Journals are available for free in the Children and Youth section of the bookstore.
BOOK IT! App
Parents, remember Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT program? Of course you do. This summer, download the BOOK IT! App to help your kiddos set reading goals, track progress and redeem rewards. During the summer months of June, July and August, any child that meets their reading goals can earn a free personal pan pizza from participating Pizza Hut locations. Yum!
Pamela Savage is a freelance writer and library enthusiast living in Springfield. She and her family plan to make use of the summer library and community programming above.