If you are looking to get out of the house without planning a whole expedition, Blue Back Square is running a summer lineup worth checking out, and bonus it’s free:

Today is the summer solstice, which means summer is officially here and daylight is doing the absolute most. The days stretch long into the evening, the white jeans come out of hiding, and suddenly it feels reasonable to have a cocktail on the patio while watching lightning bugs and muttering about the ¼-inch gap between your window frame and blackout shades that guarantees sunrise will hit your eyeballs until September.

For me, summer rituals have always included ice cream, pool days, and reading. Not in a homework way, but in a read-what-you-want, log-it-if-you-feel-like-it way. That’s where local library summer reading programs come in.

Below is a snapshot of how summer reading looks in each Valley town: what to expect, who it’s for, and how participation usually works.

Avon runs a summer reading program, this year it has a BINGO theme. Stop into the library to pick up your summer BINGO card. It has 24 reading topics on it to help you find new reads all summer long. You can either pick a row to make a BINGO or challenge yourself to read all 24 themes! Stop by the library to get started.

Canton’s summer reading program encourages readers to make friendship bracelets through reading.

Grades 1 - 7 Read and Bead: Readers can pick up their chain and reading log starting Monday, June 22. Then readers track their minutes, and collect their beads. You can trade up your basic beads to special ones. Once readers who track 400 minutes earn their pool party entrance badge.

Farmington’s program is structured by age:

Simsbury’s summer reading program is using the Beanstack app to log everything. You can read absolutely anything (audiobooks and newspapers count), but the real strategy here is physically showing up.

The Daily Raffle: You get one raffle ticket just for walking into the library each day. Want a second ticket? Drop off a donation of household cleaning supplies or personal care items for the pantry. They are giving away over twenty-five $25 gift cards to local favorites like Brookside Bagels, Metro Bis, Necker’s Toyland, and Tulmeadow Farm.

Kids & Teens Weekly Loot: Kids score a different prize every single week they visit, including a free cookie from Fitzgerald’s, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and a Raising Cane’s combo. Teens can swing by the upstairs info desk weekly to play Plinko for prizes.

Adults: Yes, you get a sign up prize too. Snag a beautiful 4-pack of notecards featuring artwork by local artist Marianne Hadley Berman while supplies last, plus a chance to earn a fifth limited-edition card by completing an activity pamphlet.

West Hartford offers summer reading programs for all ages, with reading counting toward prizes and free books.

K - 5th Grade: Collect a reading log at any location and read to collect a prize at the mid-summer pop-in (July 13-18), and at the end of the summer (August 17-22) earn a free book with a completed log.

6 - 12th Grade: Sign up in person or online, fill out a ticket whenever you read a book or attend a library program, then enter tickets by 8/25 to win themed price bundles.

Adults: Read and track your books to earn special pins and the chance to win prizes. The library posted more information is still coming with the specifics about how to participate.

Here’s what’s on deck this week around the Valley — mark your calendars!

Look for icons to find your crowd: 🎈 kid-friendly • 👤 adult • 🌞 all ages

Library Events

Discover what’s happening at your local library. Registration may be required—check with each library for full details and other events.