June 4, 2025 – Everyone is welcome at the library this summer – and everyone is welcome to join us for the Summer Reading Challenge. Summer reading is for kids and families – but it is also for everyone else!
Summer Reading is for kids – Did you know that reading just 10 minutes a day can help children avoid the summer slide? Lack of reading during the summer causes students to lose up to two months of reading development. Summer reading is a critical requirement to keep kids’ brain alert and on track.
It’s also fun. To help get kids excited about the library and reading, we have a full summer of special programs, from magicians and acrobats to science and animal presentations to live music and even movie screenings. You can also meet us at the parks all summer long for special story times, crafts, and activities.
Summer Reading is for teens – We’re inviting teens into the library this summer for Teen Art days, Teen Book Discussions, 3D Print Club, games, and crafts. We’ve also started a Teen Advisory Group – members can make their voices heard at the library.
Summer Reading is for adults – We know that one of the best ways to get kids interested in reading is to have the adults in their lives – parents and caregivers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, family friends – read with them and model reading as a fun activity. Reading with your child counts towards your own reading goal!
But even if you don’t have kids at home, this program is for you. After all, reading is good for all ages. The brain benefits from the frequent workout of reading – reading improves the concentration and memory of both young and older adults. If you are an avid reader in your free time, you have a head start! Log your reading minutes this summer and be a part of our story.
Summer Reading is for community partners – We are encouraging area daycares, preschools, and other places where kids gather this summer to get involved. Sign your group of kids up to be Mega Readers. The library has a special game board you can hang up to track reading together. When your group finishes the challenge, we will bring free books for each child, while supplies last. Mega Reader kids can also participate in the Summer Reading Challenge independently with their caregivers.
Summer Reading is for library lovers – When we have a high engagement rate with our Summer Reading Challenge, it helps us tell our story and show our community's support of the library. Plus, you know you want one of the cute “Libraries are for Everyone” bags we are handing out when you register. And don’t forget, the more times you complete the challenge, the more entries you get in our grand prize drawings.
Summer Reading is for library newcomers – If you haven’t signed up for a library card or haven’t visited us in a while, this is the perfect opportunity to check out all the library has to offer – books and media, computer and internet access, Maker Spaces, library programs, and more.
To complete the challenge, you just need to read 10 minutes a day between June 7 and Aug. 2. You don’t need to be a traditional book worm – you can read magazines, graphic novels, or the newspaper. Audiobooks count as reading, too!
Summer Reading is for you.
Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know:
Register in person or online at CRLibrary.org/summer. Read and log 600 minutes between June 7 and Aug. 2.
Register and pick up your free Summer Reading kit at the library.
Fill out your reading log or track your reading in the Beanstack app.
When you reach 300 minutes, visit the library for a free book! Kids and teens can choose from a variety of popular titles (while supplies last) to keep. Books can be claimed in person at either location through August. Adults will receive a coupon for a free book from Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
When you reach 600 minutes, claim a prize AND get an entry to grand prize drawings.
Keep reading! You can complete the challenge as many times as you want until Aug. 2. Each time you complete the challenge, you'll receive another grand prize drawing entry. Finish the challenge multiple times to increase your chances of winning!
Slips must be returned by Aug. 2 to be eligible for the prize drawing.
Find all the details: CRLibrary.org/Summer
The Summer Reading Challenge is generously supported by the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation, Hills Bank, GreenState Credit Union, The Gazette, and the Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
OPEN+ Magazine
This blog post was first published in the summer 2025 issue of the library's OPEN+ magazine.