Summer Reading Club

The Summer Reading Club is happening online and in print and you can participate online, in print or both. We have all kinds of fun online summer reading activities planned!

Welcome Young Explorers! Kids of all ages can join the Club to earn stickers, virtual badges and a Super Reader Medal by reading this summer! It is free to join, and even younger kids can join and listen to stories.

How it works

1. Register online: Likely starting June 15 visit the BC SRC website and your adult can help you register. Set your reading goal, and earn virtual badges. Unable to register online?  Don’t worry. Go straight to step 2.
2. Get your Summer Reading Club materials! This summer, most library branches will be open for Takeout service. Phone or email us at one of these 6 branch locations to schedule a time to pick up your materials and some great books. You will receive a reading log to track your reading, collectable stickers as rewards, a temporary tattoo, an activity card, and a colourful bookmark. You can also request Club materials for close family and friends!
3. Read all summer long and set personal reading goals! We recommend at least 15 minutes a day for 49 days.
4. Online Programs: check our Events Calendar every week for fun new programs. There will be live online registered programs, cool new activity videos, and self-directed at-home activities. The BC SRC website also has great weekly activities for younger and older kids between June 29 and August 10.
5. Earn a Medal! Beginning August 11th, after finishing you reading goal, visit your branch during our Takeout hours to pick up your medal.

What you can read

You can read books, comics, magazines or listen to stories or audiobooks. Download the free Libby app by OverDrive to borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks and even electronic Picturebooks.

We also love recommending great books! Contact us for reading suggestions or pick from some of our suggestions below.

The Benefits of Summer Reading Club

Summer Reading Club helps children succeed

Summer Reading Club is a way for children of all ages to stay connected during the summer school break. This annual program at public libraries across BC is highly anticipated by children and families. By accessing these free programs, activities and resources, children can:

Grow literacy skills
Research shows children who participate in Summer Reading Club make significant gains in
reading comprehension.¹

Increase reading levels
Summer Reading Club helps children raise their reading levels by the time they return to school. This is especially the case for at-risk children.²

Enjoy reading and prevent 'summer brain drain'
Children enjoy reading more with Summer Reading Club, and research has shown this means they are less likely to experience ‘summer learning loss.’ ³

Better prepare for the new school year
Children who participate in Summer Reading Club begin the new school year with a positive attitude about reading and are more confident in the classroom.⁴

These are only a few ways children benefit from Summer Reading Club at their local library, and research shows the benefits are even greater for English language learners and children at risk.

Supporting BC's new curriculum
In addition to fostering a love for reading, Summer Reading Club supports and complements the core competencies in BC’s new curriculum. By providing space and time, children can develop their skills and explore their passions and interests. Children can also experience language and story as a source of creativity and joy. When children tap into their curiosity, this wonder can lead them to new discoveries about themselves and the world.

Sources

1. Impact of library-based summer reading clubs on primary-grade children’s literacy activities and achievement (Jaclyn Dynia et al); October 2015 issue of The Library Quarterly.
2. Mid-Continent public library proves summer reading programs boost student achievement (Lauren Barack); February 2014 issue of School Library Journal.
3. Literature review on the impact of summer reading clubs (Gos Gilroy Inc.); March 2006 report for Library and Archives Canada.
4. Summer reading programs boost student achievement, study says (Carole Fiore et al); November 2010 issue of School Library Journal.