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Public Library Summer Reading Programs

Additional information can be found on library websites. Summer reading programs available for youth, young adults, and adults. Libraries may contact Christina Johnson to add their information.

Algonquin Area Public Library District: June 13 - August 10 (website)

Possible Prizes: T- shirts from the friends, books, and trinkets

Additional Info: As children read they will build up points which will be converted into donations to Heifer International. As animals are "purchased" a corral will show progress. Open to all residents of the library district.

Antioch Public Library District: June 1 - July 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: All prizes are awarded based on amount of reading the participant finishes. None of the prizes (purchased prizes, used books, donated gift certificates) go over $35 in value

Arlington Heights Memorial Library: June 8 - August 15 (website)

Possible Prizes: Youth Program: Giveaways appropriate to babies like tub toy and board book as grand prize for reaching the end; Ages 3 and up: various prizes bought from ILA, choice of comic book, and paperback book as grand prize for reaching the end; Teens: iPods and gift certificates (raffle prizes); Adult: Gift certificates to restaurants, theaters, and bookstores (raffle prizes).

Additional Info: All three programs are using the same theme: "Read on the Wild Side" from IREAD.

Cary Area Public Library District: June 6 - August 1 (website)

Possible Prizes: Children: Food coupons, books, and Nintendo DS Lite; Teen: Notebook with pen, Flip video camera, and portable DVD player; Adult: Notebook with pen, TomTom GPS unit, digital camera, and gift basket.

Additional Info: Open to all Cary Area Library cardholders age infant through adult. We are following the Read On the Wild Side theme; we will be having numerous theme craft programs for younger children and other crafts for school age kids. There are programs throughout June and July that are related to wild animals of some kind; some require a Cary library card for registration.

Crystal Lake Public Library: June 1 - August 8 (website)

Possible Prizes: Have a wide variety of prizes solicited from area businesses, including gift certificates.

Additional Info: Open to all ages of Crystal Lake Library cardholders. 600 minutes of reading required to "complete" the program. Many go beyond this. In 2008, 4,528 participants read 4,870,720 minutes in Crystal Lake.

Deerfield Public Library: June 13 - August 8 (website)

Possible Prizes: Youth: Everyone who signs up for the summer reading program will receive a green Deerfield Library bandana. Participants receive prizes along the way donated by local businesses in the community. Those who finish the program will receive a paperback book of their choice and a raffle ticket to be entered in a drawing for various gift certificates. Children in preschool through 8th grade can register for this year's youth summer reading program "Saddle Up for Summer Reading." Teen: Earn drawing entries for a 16GB for any of the following activities: registering for the program, reading a book, watching a movie, listening to a CD, or playing a video game and writing a review for the new teen blog, attending a library program, introducing themselves to the Teen Librarian, bringing a friend to the library and introducing him or her to the Teen Librarian, filling out the Teen Space Survey, suggesting a book for purchase for the Teen Collection that is not already owned by the Library. Reading Road Trip for teens entering grades 9—12. Adult: Read or listen to five library books and you can win a reusable tote bag. One lucky reader will truly arrive in style--winning a reserved parking space in the front of the Library for the rest of the year.
Additional Info: Discover stories that make the 50 states come alive in this year's adult summer reading program "Destination Read."

Dundee Township Public Library District: June 15 - August 8 (website)

Possible Prizes: Everyone who finishes may choose a paperback book from a selection purchased for this purpose and a book of coupons from area businesses. All YA & Adult tickets will be entered into a drawing for bowling parties good for 4 family or friends.

Additional Info: Cardholders from any library invited to join summer reading clubs. Children up to 8th grade (in fall, 09) have to read a certain number of minutes: 5 hours for the youngest; 10 hours for middle grades; 15 for older grades. YA & Adults have to read 4 books and fill out a ticket for each book read with comments.

Gail Borden Public Library: May 21 - August 8 (website)

Possible Prizes: Eco-Friendly bags for all finishers while supplies last, Grand Prize drawing for gift cards from area merchants.

Additional Info: Save Green by Going Green this summer at the Gail Borden Public Library. Did you know your library can help you save money while saving the environment? You save $25.00 every time you check out a book instead of buying one, for example. Because libraries share their resources, we help make the earth a better place. Join the Adult Summer Reading Program and discover how much money you save while going green!

Glenview Public Library: June 8 - August 1 (website)

Possible Prizes: All participants receive a packet and animal crackers. For every book that a patron reads, they get an entry into the weekly prize drawing. When a patron has finished their FIRST 6 books, they will receive a tote bag. This will automatically enter them into the Grand Prize raffle. Read-To-Me-Club Ages 2-5 *AND* Kindergarten – 5th grade Club: Read books at home, come to the library and play the game. Win knick-knack prizes, earn food coupons, receive a medal for 20 books and participants are eligible for random drawings for additional prizes. Junior High (6th-8th grade) Club: Read books at home, come to the library and play a challenge. Win prizes, earn food coupons, receive a medal for 20 books and includes drawings for weekly $20 Best Buy gift certificates and a Grand Prize drawing for a $50 Best Buy gift certificate.
Additional Info: Online Summer Reading Clubs for those unable to make it to the library include: Read-To-Me Club Ages 2-5 *AND* Kindergarten-8th grade Club: Read books and keep track of progress online at www.glenviewpl.org. Pick up earned food coupons and a medal for 20 books in August between the 5th and the 15th. Online Wicked Weevil Hunt – Age 2 - 8th grade: Find the wicked weevil hidden in the YS web pages each week and enter the online drawing.

Fox Lake District Library: June 15 - July 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: Everyone gets a book bag with goodies at registration. Additional prizes will be given at the end of the program in August.

Additional Info: The Youth Services Department will have a “Readers at Work” construction zone, where participants can make fun crafts, do puzzles and games, etc. Summer Reading theme is CAUTION: READERS AT WORK! to be aligned with library's building construction. The YA / ADULT program features a 2 x 4 patrons are asked to read two books and listen to four books or read 4 books and listen to 2 books to participate in a drawing for Borders gift cards. Adults and YA’s may enter the drawing each time they complete the requirements.

Fox River Grove Public Library District: June 13 - August 1 (website)

Possible Prizes: Bookmark at sign up and coupons (free bowling, county fair, children's museum, etc.) at check-ins. Culminates in a Summer Reading Picnic on August 15. Those who finished reading requirements are entered into raffles.

Additional Info: Ages 3 and up... sign up between June 13 and July 18... Youth divided into Non-readers, Readers... YA is high schoolers. Readers, YA, and Adult must read at least three books. Check-in twice - once after 7/5, once between 7/5 and 8/1.

Grayslake Area Public Library District: June 8 - July 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: Participants will receive "green" grocery style bag at signup and water bottle upon finishing. There will be drawings for additional prizes.

Additional Info: Participants must register in person to receive rules and reading logs.

Huntley Area Public Library: June 9 - August 7 (website)

Possible Prizes: Exciting world travel themed age-appropriate prizes plus a raffle for a family overnight in the African Queen Suite at the Kalahari (Wisconsin Dells).

Additional Info: Attend dance, music, game, craft and storytelling programs representing each of the 7 continents! Open to all ages, birth through adult.

Lake Forest Library: June 1 - August 1 (website)

Possible Prizes: Childrens: A variety of items with the final prize of a paperback of the child's choosing; YA: a number of weekly drawings, with the final prize an ipod nano; Adult: a number of drawings, with the final prize a Sony ebook reader.

Additional Info: Children's and YA reading prorams are open to all. Adult SRP open to Lake Forest residents only.

Lake Villa Public Library District: June 8 - August 29 for youth, June 8 - August 9 for young adults and adults (website)

Possible Prizes: Youth prizes are age approriate; bonus challenge prize is the same for everyone regardless of age; YA prizes include a stretchable book cover, a free movie pass, and a bracelet style Flashdrive.

Lincolnwood Public Library District: June 8 - July 19 (website)

Possible Prizes: The youngest children can select a small prize every time they check in. The game board players don't have weekly prizes, but they can win some small prizes on the game board. There will be some raffle prizes for the older kids and the adults. Paperbacks will also be given to all the children and teen readers.

Additional Info: Open to Lincolnwood residents of any age.

Morton Grove Public Library: June 8 - August 2 (website)

Possible Prizes: museum memberships, restaurants certificates, Visa gift card, iPod, and more.

Mount Prospect Public Library: June 1 - July 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: For adults, completion prize is a sturdy bookbag emblazoned with program theme graphic. Final prize drawings include GPS Unit New Luggage Worldwide Literacy Prize Basket New Books and Free Caribou Coffee drinks.

Additional Info: For adults, anyone 18 and over can participate. Patrons complete 5 steps to be eligible for prize drawing. Steps include 1. Take a trip to the unknown: read a lesser-known genre 2. Off the beaten path: view a lesser-known film 3. Experience real life: read a nonfiction book 4. Explore something new: read a new author or a new book 5. Pick your destination: enjoy a book, movie, or CD of your choice Patrons may complete up to 3 rounds.

Niles Public Library District: June 8 - August 3 for children and June 8 - August 29 for teens and adults (website)

Possible Prizes: Children: offering "Glummy tokens," named after the summer reading mascot of the past few years, that kids can use to buy things from our store. (pencils, zipper-pulls, stuffed animal, backpack). And at any stage they can use their tokens to make a donation to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Teen: One grand prize will be given away after each month (Brunswick Zone gift card, passes to Navy Pier’s Pier Park and Brookfield Zoo) also some stick-it-anywhere clips, flashlight keychain, and MP3 player/cell phone caddy gifts. Adult: One grand prize will be given away after each month (restaurant gift card, Chicago Botanic Garden membership, Shell Card).

Additional Info: Amnesty offered for first week of summer reading. All old fines will be forgiven and any overdue materials returned from June 8 – 15 will be waived.

Northbrook Public Library: June 1 - July 31 for children and young adults, June 1 - August 28 for adults (website)

Possible Prizes: For children and young adults, donated coupons from local business, various small prizes, and a free paperback upon completion of the program. For adults, DVD/video coupons for every five books read, and eligibility in a gift certificate drawing.

Additional info: Children from preschoolers up to 5th grade read either a total of 20 books or for five hours to earn all prizes. Young Adults going into 6th-12th grade read either five books of at least 100 pages or read for 10 hours total to earn all prizes. Participants in the adult program are requested to read five books, at least one from the theme "Multicultural America." Suggested reading lists are available.

Palatine Public Library District: June 1 - July 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: Read on the Wild Side T-shirt for completing the requirements; Photo’s Hot Dogs, Culver’s of Palatine and Brunswick Bowling coupons for children and youth.

Additional Info: Incentive for an entire household completing the requirements.

Prospect Heights Public Library District: Youth program runs June 1 - August 8, Adult program runs June 1 - July 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: Youth: Goodie bag at sign up and coupons from local merchants. At check-ins once a week additional chances for prizes and raffles for area Gift certificates like movie passes and area stores as well as a free book. Culminates in a Summer Program on August 5. Adults: Various prizes from local business, including overnight stays from area hotels, $50 Wildfire gift cards.

Additional Info: Play games at each visit and participate in weekly contests. Earn book credits by attending certain library programs related to overall theme. Adult and Youth programs are tailored to work together and encourage family-wide reading.

Round Lake Area Public Library: Teen and Adult June 1 - August 15, Youth June 8 - July 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: Teen and Adult: Digital Cameras, Youth: Bicycles

Additional Info: Teen and Adult theme is "Reel in a Good Book" and includes a Fish Photo contest, Youth theme is "Read on the Wild Side."

Skokie Public Library: June 1 - July 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: Food prizes from local merchants and a t-shirt for those children who complete the reading program that live or go to school in Skokie. All participants who finish by July 31 will receive a free ice cream treat at the Skokie Nights Chicago Boyz Acrobats performance on August 5.

Additional Info: The school with the highest percentage of summer reading club finishers will receive the BEST READERS AWARD traveling trophy to keep at their school for the next school year.

Vernon Area Public Library District: June 14 - July 26 (website)

Possible Prizes: Small item for joining (Children receive a paperback book, this year adult receive a pocket road atlas). Coupons for free items from area merchants. Adults who read four items have names entered into a raffle.

Warren-Newport Public Library District: June 1 - August 31 (website)

Possible Prizes: Finishers of the read-to-me, readers, and teen clubs will receive a new paperback book as well as the option of entering drawings for other prizes. Adults are entered into a drawing for various prizes throughout the summer.

Wauconda Area Public Library District: June 8 - July 19 (website)

Possible Prizes: Varies - small individual prizes for each participant, along with one or two raffles for more substantial prizes, such as an iPod Shuffle.

Waukegan Public Library: June 15 - August 15 (website)

Possible Prizes: Bandanas, T-Shirts, and a chance to win a Laptop for kids and gift certificates to restaurants, gas cards, and a chance to win a laptop for adults.

Additional Info: The library is “going to the dogs” this summer with a Dog Days of Summer theme for the summer reading club, programs featuring dogs all summer long and a new “Paws to Read” program providing children with an opportunity to read to therapy dogs.

Zion-Benton Public Library District: Children and tweens runs from June 6 - July 18, Adult and teens runs June 6 - August 1 (website)

Possible Prizes: For children the first week they receive a book and in subsequent weeks choose a small prize from a treasure chest. Small tween prizes include novelty pens, magic tricks puzzles. Raffle prizes will include iREAD teen materials as well as other items. Teens and Adults receive something like a lunch bag, mug, or note cube.

Additional Info: Everyone is welcome to participate in the appropriate age group. No restrictions on participation.

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