Help us beat 13 million points by logging your reading from June 1 - July 31!
13,164,971 points achieved as of August 2025.
What is the Summer Reading program?
Every summer for more than ninety years, the Metropolitan Library System has offered a Summer Reading program to keep kids and their families reading all summer long. We believe reading is a fundamental skill and a gateway to success in life. Summer Reading is a community tradition that promotes reading for fun and lifelong enrichment. We create a motivational framework for learning for all ages during the summer.
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Summer is Coming!
The Summer Slide isn’t a new feature at the local park or splash pad. No, the Summer Slide is what happens between school years when kids do not read or otherwise work to retain what they learned in school.
On average, children lose approximately two months of their reading achievement if they do not read during the summer. They typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer than they did on the same test at the beginning of the summer. And these few months of reading loss accumulate over the years. By the time kids reach middle school, those who haven’t read during the summers may have lost as much as two years worth of achievement!
The good news is the Summer Slide can easily be prevented.
Reading for just 20 minutes a day, helps kids maintain the reading skills they developed during the school year. Not only will it help them stay on track when school starts back, but with reading they can experience a summer of adventure by stimulating their imaginations.
Signing up for the Summer Reading Program is the best way for your child to keep reading over the summer. Summer Reading starts June 1 and continues through July 31.
Have your children pick out their own books and take the books with them everywhere they go: road trips, the doctor’s office, grandma’s house. Listen to audiobooks at night or in the car. Listening to audiobooks or listening to someone read aloud benefits everyone. Reading aloud helps build vocabulary skils while listening builds vocabulary and listening comprehension skills, and also increases our knowledge.
Adults can model lifelong learning by participating in the program with their children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends. Help your children prevent the Summer Slide by reading 20 minutes a day this summer! Sign up, track your reading, and earn incentives.
Whether you visit relatives, enjoy a week at camp, or have a staycation at home, make summer even more fun by reading a little everyday!
More ways to beat the Summer Slide!
- Read every day. Read non-fiction, fiction, eBooks, poetry, or newspapers or read out loud for at least 20 minutes a day!
- Cook with your children. This is one of the best ways to integrate math, reading and following directions. Help your child put together their favorite recipes in a cookbook or let your child design the menu for a meal.
- Plant a garden. Your child will learn responsibility and take pride as they watch their plants grow and thrive.
- Take a field trip. Head out to a museum, zoo or local park with walking trails. Keep a journal about your travels.
- Learn a new word each week. Hang it on the fridge and see who can use it the most times throughout the week.
- Enroll in our summer reading program as it will provide your child with opportunities to build their critical thinking skills.
- Play quick games with flashcards like Math War or Concentration to keep math skills sharp.
- Listen to audiobooks during your summer road trip.
- Take pictures and make a summer scrapbook. Encourage your children to write narratives to accompany the pictures.
- Make time to read. We can't stress it enough: if your child does nothing else this summer, make sure they read!
Adapted from Stephanie Jefferson, founder of Little Scholars (www.littlescholars.com).
How Do I Participate?
STEP 1: SIGN IN OR REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT ON BEANSTACK.
By visiting our online summer reading software you can login with your account information from previous years. If you are new to summer reading, you can create a login!
STEP 2: REGISTER FOR THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM.
After signing in and creating a Beanstack account, you will need to register for this year's Summer Reading program. If you do not register, you cannot log reading, earn badges and prizes, or be eligible for prize drawings. You must register each year to participate in the current Summer Reading program.
STEP 3: LOG READING MINUTES AND ACTIVITIES TO EARN BADGES AND PRIZES.
Use the Beanstack app or website to log your minutes and activities. At 600 points you'll receive a completion prize and be entered into a prize drawing! If you keep reading and log more than 600 minutes you'll receive more entries into the prize drawings.
No Internet Access? No Problem! You can keep track of the time spent reading through a paper log (available for download in English and Spanish) or remembering which days they read and for how long. Visit with a library staff member to help enter information into your online log.
Summer Reading Prizes
Earn points by reading or completing activities. You earn one (1) point for every one (1) minute you read read, and you'll receive five (5) points for every activity completed. You'll receive prizes and badges when you earn 600 points.
The prizes available for all ages are:
- 600 point badge
- Completion certificate
- Your choice between:
- 2 children's books* OR
- 2 teen books* OR
- 1 adult book* OR
- Metro Library tote bag*
- Entry in random gift drawing, if library card is on Summer Reading account
*While supplies and selection last.
END OF SUMMER READING DRAWING PRIZE DETAILS
- Prize: Early Literacy Play Set
- How to Qualify: Library card in good standing and connected to the Beanstack account; Earned a 600 point badge by July 31
- Number of Winners: 19
- Drawing Date: Monday, August 4
- Prize: Wireless Headphones
- How to Qualify: Library card in good standing and connected to the Beanstack account; Earned a 600 point badge by July 31
- Number of Winners: 57
- Drawing Date: Monday, August 4
END OF SUMMER READING GRAND DRAWING PRIZE DETAILS
- Prize: Prize Pack including Early Literacy Play Set
- How to Qualify: Library card in good standing and connected to the Beanstack account; Earned a 600 point badge by July 31
- Number of Winners: 1
- Drawing Date: Monday, August 4
- Prize: Apple iPad or iPad Pro with Apple Pencil
- How to Qualify: Library card in good standing and connected to the Beanstack account; Earned a 600 point badge by July 31
- Number of Winners: 3 (one in each category)
- Drawing Date: Monday, August 4
Upcoming Events
Celebrate 100 years of Stockyards City Library with a Stockyards City scavenger hunt! Pick up your official entry form at the Stockyards City Library or the Downtown Library, then boot-scoot over to Stockyards City to spot special
Disclaimer(s)
This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to be in attendance and be engaged with your child for this program.
The library is not liable for injuries to people, damage to their property or loss of property belonging to individuals or groups, using the meeting rooms.
Stop by the Ralph Ellison Library to do this month's Scavenger Hunt! This month's theme is "I Love My Library" for National Library Card Sign-up Month in September!
Wright Library Centennial Celebration Paper Replica Take Home
Bring the iconic Wright Library home with our special paper template kit! Using detailed templates, designed by Metro Library staff, to create your own paper model of this historic library.
Disclaimer(s)
It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Kit.
Library Card Sign-up Month
It may be small, but a library card packs a mighty punch. You can borrow museum passes, attend programs for all ages, and even check out garden tools.
Welcome to our Low-Key Book Club! Stop by the library to pick up a box featuring a different book title each month, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each box includes the book and some reading goodies to enhance your experience.
Kindness Challenge, 365 Days of Kindness
The Southern Oaks Library welcomes the community to join in spreading kindness throughout the year. A kindness calendar will be available each month for library guests to pick up in person or available curbside.
Downloads & Printables
Need a timed reading log? Or looking to share that you're participating in Summer Reading on social media? We've got all the things you need below! Click on the image to open the file or image to download.
Reading Logs
Activity Logs
Social Media Graphics
Facebook and X Graphics
English
Spanish
Instagram Graphics
English
Spanish
The Fine Print
The fine print: Only one (1) entry per person. Drawing winners must have a valid adult Metropolitan Library System in good standing. Metropolitan Library System staff, commissioners, and their households are ineligible to win drawing prizes.