Summer Reading Program 2025
JOIN US FOR A SUMMER OF FUN AT THE JACKSON COUNTY MEMORIAL LIBRARY!
Summer Reading Begins Monday, June 2nd!
Find FAQs here! - Coming Soon!
Important SRP Info here! - Coming Soon!
Summer Reading Challenge!
It’s new – and we hope improved – so check out the info below for all the details!
Who? Anyone! The reading challenge is open to all ages, with two different “leagues” for different age groups.
What? It’s the Reading Challenge Home Run Derby! This summer, keep track of how many minutes you’re reading by marking squares on the baseball field playboard. As you reach each base, stop in the library for a prize. Make a home run, and you’ll win a book plus an entry to win one of 6 grand prizes! For ages baby to 7, we have the Minor League playboard, where each square equals 15 minutes of read time. For ages 8 to adult, you can join the Major League, where each square equals 30 minutes of read time. (Ages baby to 7 can try a harder challenge if they want to join the Major League. There are no prize differences.)
When? June 2 through August 1. Start tracking your reading beginning Monday, June 2. Try to make a home run by Friday, July 25, then be sure to come to the library no later than Thursday, July 31 to collect your prizes and get your grand prize entries. We’ll do the grand prize drawings on Friday, August 1.
Where? The Jackson County Memorial Library, of course! And make sure you check the Calendar of Events on the backside of your playboard to have a great Summer at the Library!
How? Come by the library beginning June 2 to pick up your playboard, then start reading! There are no rules for reading – you can even read books more than once! But we do hope that you’ll choose to read books on your reading level to continue improving your literacy over the summer. But we want the reading challenge to be fun, so you can read however you choose: physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, comic books – any interaction with reading counts!
Note: While the challenge can be completed in just a few days, in an effort to help the fun last all summer, base prizes cannot be collected before the date noted on the playboard. You do not have to reach the bases by those dates, you just cannot collect your prizes before then. All prizes must be collected by Thursday, July 31.
This year, in addition to our regular Friday events, we have activities happening every day so there will always be something to do at the library this summer. Please note that some activities do require registration, have age restrictions, and/or may be limited to the number of participants.
Summer-Long Events
-Color Scavenger Hunt: Pick up a color scavenger hunt board and see what you can find in nature to match the colors. Bring in a completed board for a small prize.
-Tiny Recycled Art Display: Pick up a mini “canvas” from the library and create any artwork you can imagine (make sure it is family-friendly, though!). You can use paint, markers, 3D materials, recycled materials, anything – then bring it in to the library for us to display. This will not be a competition, just an art display, but you can pick a small prize for completing one!
Friday Events
Friday, June 6th: John O’Bryant, Magician
Program begins at 10 am in the Jackson County Services Building Auditorium (back of the library building)
Friday, June 13th: ZOOfari
Program begins at 10 am in the Jackson County Services Building Auditorium (back of the library building)
Friday, June 20th: TBD
Program will be held in the Services Building Kitchen at 10 am
Friday, June 27th: Library Loteria
Activity begins at 10 am in the Services Building Kitchen (across from the library); registration is required; seating is limited; All ages, children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
Friday, July 11th: Book Tasting
Activity begins at 10 am in the library
Ages 10-17; registration required; seating is limited
Friday, July 18th: Snack & Paint
Activity begins at 10 am in the Services Building Kitchen (across from the library)
18+, registration required; seating is limited
Friday, July 25th: Lucas Miller, the Singing Zoologist
Program begins at 10 am in the Services Building Auditorium (back of the library building)
Maker Mondays
3 – 5:30, come-and-go
Monday, June 2nd: Legos & other building kits
Monday, June 9th: Secret Messages
Monday, June 16th: Pokémon Trading, begins at 3pm, not a come-and-go
Monday, June 23rd: Art Activity – Finish the Picture
Monday, June 30th: Mini Paper Houses
Monday, July 7th: Legos & other building kits
Monday, July 14th: Paint like Michelangelo
Monday, July 21st: Optical Illusion Art
Monday, July 28th: Color Wheel Spinner
Tween Tuesdays
Activities begin at 3pm; Open to kids ages 8-12; some events require registration, NOT a come-and-go
Tuesday, June 3rd: Egg Carton Geodes
Tuesday, June 10th: Collage Puzzles
Tuesday, June 17th: Tasty Tuesday (Food Activity)
Tuesday, June 24th: See Like a Bee
Tuesday, July 1st: Recycled Sketchbooks
Tuesday, July 8th: Game Day
Tuesday, July 15th: Tasty Tuesday (Food Activity)
Tuesday, July 22nd: How to Draw
Tuesday, July 29th: Paper Shadow Puppets
Tuesday, June 17th: Tasty Tuesday for Kids: Food Activity with Mrs. Courtney
10 am, Registration Required, Ages 4+
Tuesday, July 15th: Tasty Tuesday for Kids: Food Activity with Mrs. Courtney
10 am, Registration Required, Ages 4+
Wednesday Storytimes
10 am in the library
Wednesday, June 11th: Family Story Time – Tickled Pink
Wednesday, June 18th: Baby Art Tummy Time, ages 0-2
Wednesday, June 25th: Family Story Time – Green Thumbs
Wednesday, July 9th: Family Story Time – Feeling Blue
Wednesday, July 16th: Baby Art Tummy Time, ages 0-2
Wednesday, July 23rd: Family Story Time – Roll Out the Red Carpet
Come and Craft It Thursdays
Come-and-go craft activity, 2-4:30 pm, All ages
Thursday, June 5th: Paper Flowers
Thursday, June 12th: Rock Painting
Thursday, June 19th: Candy Wrapper Buttons
Thursday, June 26th: Foil Marker Painting
Thursday, July 3rd: Come & Grab It Take Home Craft Kit: Color Change Bead Bracelets/Keychains
Thursday, July 10th: Mini Diamond Art
Thursday, July 17th: Paper Mosaics
Thursday, July 24th: Sun Prints
Thursday, July 31st: Stitch Cards