In the heart of summertime, you don’t need to travel far for adventure. Just like the enchanting stories found within the pages of a book, Summer@RPL was filled with adventures, community, and lasting memories—all right here at the library.
Summer@RPL kicked off this year with a Carnival in the Children’s Department on June 15 and concluded on August 10 with raffles for exciting prizes. Patrons of all ages participated in a variety of educational programs. Our Youth Services Department and Branch Libraries hosted visits from PA Bat Rescue, Red Creek Wildlife Center, Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary, Science Explorers, Animal Rescue League of Berks County, Snapology, and I See Magic. Other programs included Chess Club, Crafty Creations, Art Studio, Book Discussions, Crochet Club, VR games, Food for Thought, Anime Workshops, Movie Matinees, and many more activities designed to keep kids and teens positively engaged through the summer months.
We even had fun outside the library building! In July, the Children’s Department sponsored a field trip to Berks Nature for a guided exploration of Angelica Creek Park. Our Northeast Branch and the Reading Police Chaplains also held an outdoor “Cones with Cops” event with the aim of fostering a positive relationship between law enforcement and the community. Officers scooped ice cream and handed out free cones to the neighborhood—a welcome treat on a hot summer day!
Additionally, library staff traveled to various sites around Reading to deliver story times, craft programs, STEM activities, and book giveaways. We visited 13th and Union Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, Central Middle School, 11th and Pike Recreation Center, 3rd and Spruce Recreation Center, the YMCA, and numerous child care centers.
Our Summer@RPL Passport Challenge encouraged young patrons to continue to read and learn while school was out. Kids and teens earned a passport stamp and raffle ticket for each book or activity completed. Five stamps earned them a small prize and a free book, and twenty stamps completed the challenge. Drawings for large raffle prizes were held at the end of summer. The Passport Challenge was designed to prevent summer learning loss and to encourage children and families to engage in fun and enriching activities.
We extend unconditional gratitude to our generous donors who have contributed to the incredible success of this year’s Summer@RPL. We can’t thank our supporters enough for every donation that helps us create lasting summer memories here at the library.
