Category Archives: Reading Challenge

Updates on the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge and similar programs.

Summer Reading Flowers

This program is for children under 10, and will run alongside our Read & Bead program – so your reading times count towards both! When you sign up, you’ll receive a flower head that you can add a colorful petal to for every 20 minutes you read over the summer – and once your flower has fully “bloomed”, it will be added to our Summer Reading Garden in the Children’s Room! You’ll also earn a ladybug or bee to add to the Garden for every 200 minutes you read, and a butterfly for every 500 minutes. By the end of summer, we hope that the Summer Reading Garden will be bustling with life.

The Library’s 2026 Summer Reading Kickoff is Saturday, June 13! Early sign-ups start Tuesday, June 9, but we encourage you to stop by during the Kickoff even if you’ve signed up already. Take part in fun crafts and activities – and while you’re here, check out our displays for the state-wide America 250 Celebration as well!

Read & Bead

This Summer Reading Program is for children under 10. Create a custom necklace over the course of the summer – you’ll earn a bead for every 20 minutes you read, and a charm for every 100 minutes. Participants receive a book log to track their reading time in when they sign up, as well as a necklace chain and a red, white, or blue starter bead in honor of the America 250 Celebration!

Summer Reading Challenge

This NEW Summer Reading Program is for children ages 10 and up! You’ll start off by receiving a Positive Pickle for inspiration – then hang a flower decoration on our “branch bouquet” for every 30 minutes you read during the summer, and pick another Pickle for every 90 minutes! You’ll be entered into the Participation Raffle if you return your reading log with at least 30 min of reading marked – but those who complete all 12 of the Reading Challenges in the reading log will also be entered into the Reading Challenge Raffle!

Participation Raffle Prizes:
– Copper Water Bottle
– Giant Tub of Popcorn
– Rechargeable Earbuds
– Pack of 200 Stickers

Reading Challenge Raffle Prizes:
– Copper Water Bottle
– Pack of 200 Stickers
– Guinness Book of World Records 2026
– The Ultimate Book of Random Fun Facts
– Leather Journal and Pen
– $100 Gift Certificate to The Clay Date

Adult Summer Reading Raffle

Who says Summer Reading is just for kids? Our adult patrons can take part by filling out a Raffle Entry Form online (or in person at the Library) for each book read over the course of the summer. One winner will be selected at the end of the summer to receive a special “Connecticut Adventure Basket” – a mix of passes, gift certificates, and guidebooks to all Connecticut has to offer – courtesy of the Friends of the Library. Delve into the rich resources that surround us here in the Nutmeg State. Every book is a chance for adventure!

The Library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program Kickoff is Saturday, June 13! Early sign-ups for our Summer Reading Programs start Tuesday, June 9, but we encourage you to stop by during the Kickoff even if you’ve signed up already, to take part in fun crafts and activities – and while you’re here, check out the displays we’re setting up as part of the state-wide America 250 Celebration as well!

There will be a special Rock Painting activity starting at 2:00 PM; visitors will be able to paint a custom rock to add to Rocky the Rock Snake, who is returning for the summer!

Summer Reading Programs:

Read & Bead: For children under 10. Create a custom necklace – earn a bead for every 20 minutes you read, and a charm for every 100 minutes. All participants will receive a necklace chain when they sign up, as well as a red, white, or blue starter bead.
Summer Reading Flowers: For children under 10. Help us grow our reading vine! Add a petal to your flower for every 20 min. you read, a ladybug or bee for every 200 min, and a butterfly for every 500 min!
Summer Reading Challenge: For children 10 and up. Start off with a Positive Pickle for inspiration – then hang a flower on our branch bouquet for every 30 min. you read, and pick another Pickle for every 90 min!Participants are automatically entered into a raffle – and everyone who completes the special Reading Challenge will be entered into an additional raffle sponsored by the Friends of the Library!
Summer Reading Raffle: For adults. We are once again encouraging adults to take part in Summer Reading by offering a raffle entry (online or in person at the Library) for every book read over the summer. One winner will be selected at the end of the summer to receive a special prize from the Friends of the Library!

America 250 Celebration Displays:

Revolutionary Reading book display (upstairs) and Celebrating 250 Years of American History book displays (upstairs and downstairs)
The Three Sisters Boundary Stone (upstairs)
Bethany 250th Quilt & Bethany Bicentennial Quilt (in the stairwell)
Arts@Clark!: Quilting with Friends exhibit (in the Community Room)
Children’s Guide to the Founding Fathers Storywalk (on the front lawn)

The Nutmeg Book Award allows students to choose their favorite books from lists of ten nominated titles at four reading levels (Elementary, Intermediate, Middle School, & High School) and vote for them in April. The Library will be adding copies of many of the 2027 nominees to its physical collection soon, but we already have a curated booklist on the Palace app that includes ebook and audiobook editions of both the 2027 nominees (with sublists divided by reading level) and the 2026 winners!

Whether you’re planning to vote or just looking for a good summer reading book, sign in to Palace and take a look. If you don’t find what you’re looking for there, you can check out our other digital media apps, Libby and Hoopla. All three can be used for free – all you need to create an account is a library card and an email address! More information is available on the Library website.

A reminder to all of our young patrons (and their parents):
Whether you’re reading on your own, as part of a book club or reading challenge, or even for an assignment, make sure to check out the Library’s Summer Reading resources! We have 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Book Bags available in the Children’s Room, New Books and 2026 Nutmeg Book Award Nominees displays upstairs, and curated booklists – including Nutmeg nominees and the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge – on our apps, Hoopla, Libby, and Palace. Happy reading!

This summer Clark Memorial Library is hosting a special raffle just for adult readers, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. For each book you read (or listen to) this summer, fill out a raffle slip with the title of the book, your name, and a phone number or email address for a chance to win one of two “Enchanted iPad Packages” – each includes an iPad, a case, wireless earphones, and two hours of instruction (at your convenience) from a Library staff member to get you started setting up the device and learning how to download ebooks and audiobooks using the Library’s apps.

We encourage reading and entering multiple times! Names will be drawn in late August.

Raffle slips are available in the Friends of the Library nook at the bottom of the main staircase, and can be filled out and submitted digitally here. The raffle slip link will also be available on the homepage of our website, or you can simply email the necessary information directly to the Library at ClarkMain@BethanyLibrary.org.

Our Children’s Room has been transformed for our Summer Reading Program – Spellbound: The Enchantment of Reading! Watch the video below to catch a glimpse of all the “spellbinding” decorations our staff have put together.

The Summer Reading Kickoff will take place June 14th. Stop by to pick up a Summer Reading chart, a Read & Bead necklace chain, and a goodie bag, and keep an eye on the Event Calendar for upcoming activities and programs!

Join us for the start of the Library’s Summer Reading Program on June 14th!

Sign up for our Read & Bead program, which will run throughout the summer during Library hours, and you’ll get a necklace chain, a Read & Bead chart, and while supplies last, a “Bag of Enchantment” with fun goodies inside!

Check off a box on the Read & Bead chart for every 20 minutes of reading you do over the summer. You’ll earn one bead or charm to add to your necklace for each checked-off box – as well as a leaf with your name on it to add to our Summer Reading Trees. For every 200 minutes of reading (10 checked-off boxes), you’ll also be able to add a fantasy creature to the Trees!

Your reading time for Read & Bead can also be counted towards the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge, if you’re taking part in that program as well.

By the end of the summer, we hope that all of our participants will have amazing personalized necklaces to show off, and our Summer Reading Trees will be bursting with life!