Summer Reading 2024: Adventure Awaits!

The Summer Reading Program is an initiative that aims to promote reading and literacy to children, teens and adults. Each summer, Johnson County Library offers programs and events connected to the Summer Reading theme, which this year is Adventure Begins at Your Library. The theme is chosen by the Collaborative Summer Library Program and adopted by libraries across the country.

Johnson County Library promotes reading and literacy by offering access to books, programs and presenters during the summer months to help encourage our community to keep reading and reduce summer slide. Research shows that kids who don’t practice reading skills during times when school is not in session can lose gains in ability made the previous academic year.

The Library also aims to build in-home libraries through the in-branch and outreach book distribution. Having access to books within arm’s reach naturally promotes an increase in daily reading habits.  In fact, just 20 minutes of reading a day can provide exponential gains for a child’s exposure to language, the long-term amount of time engaged in text, and as a result a greater understanding of the world around them, leading to increased test scores.

Summer Reading starts June 1st with a Launch Celebration at the Central Resource Library!

Mr. Stinky Feet will kick us off at 10 am, followed by a Community Connections Fair where you can discover community groups and activities to launch your adventures this summer. Do you dream of kayaking or juggling? Making art or music? Community organizations can help you get started. 

Johnson County Master Naturalists will guide wildlife adventurers outside to spot birds using binoculars. And you can explore the whole solar system with an Ad Astra planetarium show. 

Summer Reading activities will go through June and into July, concluding on Wednesday, July 31. 

Your adventure will continue throughout the community by grabbing a Johnson County Library Passport to Adventure, available starting in June at all library locations.

We’ll update this website and our social media accounts frequently with new information and updates about our Summer Reading program. Follow @jocolibrary on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  We also offer a bi-weekly Kids and Family email newsletter in June and July with featured programming, reading recommendations, and more tips for summer fun. Sign up at jocolibrary.org/enewsletters. 

Most events will require registration. Beginning in mid-April, you will find a full list of events and registration details at jocolibrary.org/events. 

The Friends of the Library will offer their annual bookmark design contest.  Applications will be available in branches in April, and submissions will be accepted June 1st-July 31st.  

Summer Reading books will be distributed at each library branch this year during the month of June only. Branches will begin offering one free book per family member beginning June 3rd  and conclude June 30th.

The Library remains committed to community outreach and, as mentioned above, building in-home libraries. Therefore, we are once again working with community partners like school districts, rec centers and non-profit organizations to give away books at their events and locations.

Johnson County Library has ordered over 25,000 books across all age groups within the following categories:  Board, Picture, Easy Reader, J Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Teen.  The carousel on this page lists just a few of the titles available! In addition to books, we’ll offer bookmarks, reading logs, and stickers at each branch.

It is a physical passport.  It is a small booklet that resembles an actual passport and can be stamped, stickered, or initialed to mark off completed activities.

Summer Reading Passports will be available in all Johnson County Library locations beginning June 1st.

This year's Summer Reading Passport offers all types of adventures!  Some can be done within your very own home like try a new food or look at the stars.  Others can be done in your community like riding a bus or exploring a new park.  You can also explore program opportunities outside of the library system including The Shawnee Town Museum, The Johnson County Museum, The Aztec Theater, and The National Museum for Toys/Miniatures.