2026 Summer Reading Program
This summer, we want to celebrate all library users! We’ve made it easy with our new simplified Summer Challenge. Families can participate as much or as little as they like. There is no required tracking, and the focus is on growth, curiosity, and community.
Who can participate?
All ages — kids, teens, and adults
Earn a ticket for every day you read and every activity you complete. You can even earn entries for visiting the library, checking out a library book, attending a library program, using our computers, the sky is the limit! We want to celebrate all library users this summer. All tickets will go towards a chance to win one of 20 gift cards to local businesses or a special experience event designed for teens.
Who can participate?
All ages — kids, teens, and adults
Earn a ticket for every day you read and every activity you complete. You can even earn entries for visiting the library, checking out a library book, attending a library program, using our computers, the sky is the limit! We want to celebrate all library users this summer. All tickets will go towards a chance to win one of 20 gift cards to local businesses or a special experience event designed for teens.
HOW IT WORKS
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WAYS TO LOG YOUR READING
Log your reading by using our printable reading log for kids, our bookmark reading tracker or paper records for teens and adults, online through the Beanstack app. Earn a ticket for our grand prize raffles for each day you read and each activity you complete.
Families that want to participate with their children will receive one literacy kit per child.
Kits include:
• A Summer Reading Bag
• Stickers
• Tree‑themed activity pages
• Reading log (Families color in a small circle for every day they read)
• A free book to keep
Families can return to the library to receive our special weekly children's mystery box prize.
Daily reading lowers stress, builds empathy, and bridges educational inequities. Record each day you read or are read to (magazines and audiobooks count), and build a healthy habit that can reward you with prizes!
Kits include:
• A Summer Reading Bag
• Stickers
• Tree‑themed activity pages
• Reading log (Families color in a small circle for every day they read)
• A free book to keep
Families can return to the library to receive our special weekly children's mystery box prize.
Daily reading lowers stress, builds empathy, and bridges educational inequities. Record each day you read or are read to (magazines and audiobooks count), and build a healthy habit that can reward you with prizes!
ACTIVITIES
Summer Reading activity challenges can be found on our paper logs, on Beanstack, or posted on our social media pages. See all of our special events listed on our website events calendar.
Follow us on our social media pages:
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PRIZES
Earn a ticket for every day you read and every activity you complete and place it in our watering can across from the circulation desk. You can even earn entries for visiting the library, checking out a library book, attending a library program, using our computers, the sky is the limit! We want to celebrate all library users this summer. All tickets will go towards a chance to win one of 20 gift cards to local businesses or a special experience event designed for teens.
You could win a gift card to one of these local businesses:
You could win a gift card to one of these local businesses:
Teens (AGES 13-18 ONLY) have the option to instead choose from a special library experience for you and your friends:
Pizza Party, Movie Night, After Hours Library Laser Tag, Librarian for a Day, KPL Lit Talks Podcast Guest, Candy Bouquet, Spa Day, Black Light Painting Party
You will be notified if you win and you can schedule or pick up your prize at KPL.
Grand prize drawings will take place on August 17th. Winners will have until August 31st to redeem prizes.
*Library patrons are automatically entered when they participate by attending events or checking out materials.
Pizza Party, Movie Night, After Hours Library Laser Tag, Librarian for a Day, KPL Lit Talks Podcast Guest, Candy Bouquet, Spa Day, Black Light Painting Party
You will be notified if you win and you can schedule or pick up your prize at KPL.
Grand prize drawings will take place on August 17th. Winners will have until August 31st to redeem prizes.
*Library patrons are automatically entered when they participate by attending events or checking out materials.
HELP OUR GARDEN GROW
Help our community flourish by making a donation to the library. Purchase a handmade paper flower to add to our community garden at the circulation desk. Add your name if you would like and let everyone know that you support the Killingly Public Library. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated and go directly towards our programs and services and allows us to provide fun things for the community like our Summer Challenge.
FAQ
Who can participate?
Everyone! All ages of Killingly Public Library users can participate!
When is the Summer Reading Program?
Our program runs from Saturday, June 20th to Friday, August 14th.
Join us June 20th for our Kickoff Party where we will have a delicious Garden Cup Creation Station.
Return all reading logs by August 14th, our Summer Reading Finale Ice Cream Party where we celebrate all of our library users and Summer readers!
How do I register?
There is no set formal registration form. You can participate as much or as little as you'd like, whatever works for you. You can register on our online tracking portal Beanstack. You are considered registered when picking up literacy kits, checking out library materials, or filling out a ticket for using the library.
How do I get my reading log?
Children and families can come into the library and pick up a literacy kit starting Saturday, June 20th. Kids literacy kits include: A Summer Reading bag, stickers, tree‑themed activity pages, a book to keep, and a reading log (Families color in a small circle for every day they read).
Teens and Adults can pick up a paper reading log tracker or bookmark where you color in parts of the design to track your reading.
All Ages can use Beanstack to track reading online. This can replace or be in addition to the paper logs listed above.
Does it cost money?
No, like all KPL programs and resources, the Summer Challenge and Beanstack are available at no cost to you!
Do I need a library card to participate?
You do not need a library card to sign up for the Summer Challenge or to participate in library programs. However, you will need a library card to check out books, DVDs, magazines, so we encourage you to visit your local library (even if it's not Killingly) and get your card that you can use at any library in CT.
What is Beanstack?
Beanstack is the name of the website where you can register to participate in the Summer Challenge. There, you can log your reading, write reviews, and complete activities. Beanstack also has a mobile app called Beanstack Tracker. Beanstack is not required. If needed, paper trackers are available upon request or can be printed at home.
Why do I need to provide my contact email and/or phone number?
We need to be able to contact you if you win one of our great prizes! For Beanstack, you’ll also receive a welcome email with instructions as well as recommendations for reading materials and library programs. Additionally, if you forget your password, it’s much easier to reset if you provide an email address.
What is Plant a Seed...Read?
Plant a Seed...read is KPL’s summer reading program theme for 2026. We will have events catered to planting, growing, and all things nature.
Why should I read this Summer?
Daily reading lowers stress, builds empathy, and bridges educational inequities. Creating a reading habit is key to long-term educational success, and KPL is here to help. Reading over the Summer helps children combat the "Summer Slide" where they may lose skills they learned during the school year. Reading over the summer keeps them engaged and on point so they will be ready for the next school year. Reading a little bit everyday will build a healthy new habit that can reward you with exciting prizes.
How do I complete the Summer Challenge?
No need to complete anything. Active participation and library usage is our main goal. Visit the library as much as possible. We would love to see you every week! Check out books and track your reading if you'd like, the more you do the more entries you'll get for our end of Summer drawing. Attend our programs and complete our activity challenges for extra entries too.
How do I record or track my progress?
You can track reading on our paper reading logs for each age group. You can also track reading minutes, reviews, and activities completed on Beanstack. Highlights of our activity challenges from Beanstack will also be posted on our social media so you can also keep an eye there and complete activity challenges even if you're not using Beanstack.
How do I use the Beanstack App?
Login with your Beanstack username and password. If you do not know your password, visit killinglypl.beanstack.org and click “sign in” and then “I forgot my password.” You can then use the app to track your minutes read, reviews written, and activities completed. Scan book ISBN barcodes to quickly add titles to your log; manage family reading logs - mark reading for all or some members of your family at once! Any logging in the app will automatically be tied to your progress in Summer Challenge. The app also requires an internet connection.
What prizes are offered during the Summer?
Families and children can check in weekly with their reading log and pick out a prize from our mystery prize box. (Limit one prize per kid per week and unfortunately we only have the current week prize available, we cannot give retroactive prizes for weeks missed.)
We also offer a grand prize drawing at the end of the Summer. Everyone can earn entries for this drawing by using the library, checking out library items, attending programs, using Beanstack to track minutes, reviews, and activities, or submitting their paper reading logs by August 14th, our Summer Reading Program Finale.
What are Teen Experience Prizes?
When teens (ages 13-18 only) fill out their tickets, they can circle the options they most want to win. Teens have the option to choose from the local business gift cards or a special library experience for you and your friends:
Pizza Party, Movie Night, After Hours Library Laser Tag, Be a Librarian for a Day, Guest Star on our KPL Lit Talks Podcast, Candy Bouquet, Spa Day, Black Light Painting Party
How do I win a prize?
Log all progress and return all reading logs by August 14. Prize drawings will take place on August 17th. Winners will be contacted by library staff via the contact information provided. All prizes must be picked up at the library by August 31, 2026 or a new winner will be selected.
Everyone! All ages of Killingly Public Library users can participate!
When is the Summer Reading Program?
Our program runs from Saturday, June 20th to Friday, August 14th.
Join us June 20th for our Kickoff Party where we will have a delicious Garden Cup Creation Station.
Return all reading logs by August 14th, our Summer Reading Finale Ice Cream Party where we celebrate all of our library users and Summer readers!
How do I register?
There is no set formal registration form. You can participate as much or as little as you'd like, whatever works for you. You can register on our online tracking portal Beanstack. You are considered registered when picking up literacy kits, checking out library materials, or filling out a ticket for using the library.
How do I get my reading log?
Children and families can come into the library and pick up a literacy kit starting Saturday, June 20th. Kids literacy kits include: A Summer Reading bag, stickers, tree‑themed activity pages, a book to keep, and a reading log (Families color in a small circle for every day they read).
Teens and Adults can pick up a paper reading log tracker or bookmark where you color in parts of the design to track your reading.
All Ages can use Beanstack to track reading online. This can replace or be in addition to the paper logs listed above.
Does it cost money?
No, like all KPL programs and resources, the Summer Challenge and Beanstack are available at no cost to you!
Do I need a library card to participate?
You do not need a library card to sign up for the Summer Challenge or to participate in library programs. However, you will need a library card to check out books, DVDs, magazines, so we encourage you to visit your local library (even if it's not Killingly) and get your card that you can use at any library in CT.
What is Beanstack?
Beanstack is the name of the website where you can register to participate in the Summer Challenge. There, you can log your reading, write reviews, and complete activities. Beanstack also has a mobile app called Beanstack Tracker. Beanstack is not required. If needed, paper trackers are available upon request or can be printed at home.
Why do I need to provide my contact email and/or phone number?
We need to be able to contact you if you win one of our great prizes! For Beanstack, you’ll also receive a welcome email with instructions as well as recommendations for reading materials and library programs. Additionally, if you forget your password, it’s much easier to reset if you provide an email address.
What is Plant a Seed...Read?
Plant a Seed...read is KPL’s summer reading program theme for 2026. We will have events catered to planting, growing, and all things nature.
Why should I read this Summer?
Daily reading lowers stress, builds empathy, and bridges educational inequities. Creating a reading habit is key to long-term educational success, and KPL is here to help. Reading over the Summer helps children combat the "Summer Slide" where they may lose skills they learned during the school year. Reading over the summer keeps them engaged and on point so they will be ready for the next school year. Reading a little bit everyday will build a healthy new habit that can reward you with exciting prizes.
How do I complete the Summer Challenge?
No need to complete anything. Active participation and library usage is our main goal. Visit the library as much as possible. We would love to see you every week! Check out books and track your reading if you'd like, the more you do the more entries you'll get for our end of Summer drawing. Attend our programs and complete our activity challenges for extra entries too.
How do I record or track my progress?
You can track reading on our paper reading logs for each age group. You can also track reading minutes, reviews, and activities completed on Beanstack. Highlights of our activity challenges from Beanstack will also be posted on our social media so you can also keep an eye there and complete activity challenges even if you're not using Beanstack.
How do I use the Beanstack App?
Login with your Beanstack username and password. If you do not know your password, visit killinglypl.beanstack.org and click “sign in” and then “I forgot my password.” You can then use the app to track your minutes read, reviews written, and activities completed. Scan book ISBN barcodes to quickly add titles to your log; manage family reading logs - mark reading for all or some members of your family at once! Any logging in the app will automatically be tied to your progress in Summer Challenge. The app also requires an internet connection.
What prizes are offered during the Summer?
Families and children can check in weekly with their reading log and pick out a prize from our mystery prize box. (Limit one prize per kid per week and unfortunately we only have the current week prize available, we cannot give retroactive prizes for weeks missed.)
We also offer a grand prize drawing at the end of the Summer. Everyone can earn entries for this drawing by using the library, checking out library items, attending programs, using Beanstack to track minutes, reviews, and activities, or submitting their paper reading logs by August 14th, our Summer Reading Program Finale.
What are Teen Experience Prizes?
When teens (ages 13-18 only) fill out their tickets, they can circle the options they most want to win. Teens have the option to choose from the local business gift cards or a special library experience for you and your friends:
Pizza Party, Movie Night, After Hours Library Laser Tag, Be a Librarian for a Day, Guest Star on our KPL Lit Talks Podcast, Candy Bouquet, Spa Day, Black Light Painting Party
How do I win a prize?
Log all progress and return all reading logs by August 14. Prize drawings will take place on August 17th. Winners will be contacted by library staff via the contact information provided. All prizes must be picked up at the library by August 31, 2026 or a new winner will be selected.