Join us for
Summer Reading!

Stay tuned for news on Summer Reading!

Reading is an important way to stay engaged during the summer. The library provides reading experiences for all ages to find enrichment and enjoyment in reading, minimize the summer slide, and maintain academic skills. Interest-based reading has been proven to improve school success and it’s also a lot of fun!

COMING TO A LIBRARY NEAR YOU SUMMER 2024!

Frequently Asked Questions

We will be offering in-person events throughout the summer, beginning mid-June. Check out the Library’s calendar for more information!

This year, prizes include: 

  • Babies & Toddlers: up to two board books
  • Kids & Tweens (ages 3-12): up to three free books and a free pass to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium or Northwest Trek
  • Teens (ages 13 to 18): up to three free books and a raffle entry to win a $50 gift card
  • Adults: Raffle entry to win a $25 gift card
  • Beanstack users of all ages: Raffle entry to win a $25 gift card

All prizes are made possible by the Pierce County Library Foundation with support from Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek, D.V. and Ida J. McEachern Charitable Fund and the Florence B. Kilworth Foundation.

Pierce County Library System staff members are welcome to participate but are not eligible to win prizes. Their family members can participate and earn entries for prize drawings!

No, living in Pierce County or having a Pierce County Library card is not required to participate in Summer Reading activities.

To win prizes, you do need to live in Pierce County, have a Pierce County Library cardor live in the service area of one of our reciprocal library systems.

No, you can read anything you like! Reading any genre or format, including e-books, graphic novels, magazines and zines; reading with or to children; even listening to audiobooks, all count as hours on your summer reading log.

Yes, of course! Listening to stories on audiobooks, read-along or other formats counts, as does reading with or to children.

Come on into your Pierce County Library to pick up print materials from your local library starting June 1. You can also request reading logs as part of Curbside pickup.

If you can’t make it in, you can download a log below:

Yes, you can track your reading online using the Beanstack app. Beanstack is a free website and mobile app used to track your reading. You can sign up for Beanstack online or download the mobile app from the Google Play or Apple store.

Yes! You can sign up for Beanstack as an individual or as a family, and choose to participate in the Summer Reading challenge.

One benefit for families is that parents can link children accounts to their account and log all reading time and activities in one place.

Yes – but please note that to receive a free book prize, you’ll need to visit your local Pierce County Library. Show participation either through your Beanstack app or the paper reading log.

Summer reading programs began in the 1890s as a way to encourage school children to read during their summer vacation, use the library and develop the habit of reading. The benefits to readers in a summer reading program include:

  • encouragement that reading become a lifelong habit
  • reluctant readers can be drawn in by the activities
  • children maintain their reading skills during summer vacation
  • events and programs draw people of all ages to libraries to build community and have fun

Find out more on ALA’s Summer Reading Programs resources page.

Summer Reading sponsor logos Northwest Trek, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, McEachern Charitable Trust and the Florence B. Kilworth Foundation