Summer Reading News

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) has made the online manual and product catalog for summer 2026 and Unearth a Story™  available!

The artist, Tom Bonson, has brought dinosaurs and books to life with vibrant colors and engaging graphics around the theme of dinosaurs, paleontology, and archaeology. This exciting theme brings lots of opportunities for everyone to uncover new knowledge, explore the past, and find joy in discovery and reading through using the library.

The CSLP Product Catalog includes posters, reading trackers, apparel, and much more. The online manual is an idea book with a wealth of program information, booklists, printables, artwork and many more resources to accompany the Unearth a Story™ theme and slogan. There are many ways to collaborate with local partners like museums around this theme so it’s not too early to start thinking about and planning your Summer Reading program for 2026.

If your public library needs access to the online manual, please reach out to your system Youth Services Consultant, or contact NYS Library Youth Services staff and be sure to include the name of your system and your library. 
 

September is Library Card Sign-up Month!  Every library is a vibrant part of a larger community and offers cardholders an amazing array of resources including books, access to electronic and career resources, museum passes, engaging programs and even tools and musical instruments to borrow! Libraries can find sample social media posts, graphics, and promotional ideas on the Library Card Sign-up Month site. 

Reach out to community organizations and partner with school libraries in your area to help spread the word about the enormous benefits of having a library card and encourage everyone in your community to sign up for a library card this month!

We know public libraries are extra busy right now getting ready for wonderful programs and activities connected to Summer Reading and Learning.  We are excited to hear about the great events and programs for all ages that will be part of the 2025 theme of Color Our World™ which encourages libraries to embrace art and creativity in all its forms. We hope this theme will foster not only creativity but also empathy and understanding to help people connect with each other and with their communities.

There are many resources available to help libraries plan and implement their Summer Reading programs:

The PSAs for 2025 Color Our World can be found in the CSLP manual and are also linked from the Promote Your Summer Reading Program page of the Youth Services site. PSAs on the CSLP YouTube channel are easy to reshare with schools and community organizations to promote Summer Reading! Additional audio and video files for direct use or modification by libraries can be found by accessing the 2025 CSLP online manual.

The Toolkit for Schools and School Libraries has been updated for 2025 and added to the NYS Library Summer Reading site at Promote Your Summer Reading Program. Libraries can take advantage of this useful resource to connect with their local schools to share information and encourage schools to promote Summer Reading to their students and families. The toolkit can also help foster collaboration between schools/school libraries and public libraries.

See the Promote Your Summer Reading Program page on the State Library Youth Services site to access and download updated promotional flyers for 2025.

This year, to round out New York students’ reading lists, Britannica Education has compiled recommendations from five librarians across the country and curated a digital packet of activities to celebrate some “Sun-sational” themed summer reading! As a dedicated partner, Britannica has made
additional resources available with printables for libraries, and schools. The folks at Britannica hope this year’s assortment of digital resources is a fun and engaging way to supplement any planned summer reading festivities.

Wishing you a fun-filled summer of reading and creating!

Spring is here and Summer Reading is just around the corner. This is a great time to plan a related activity for families at your library to include a tactile experience!

Many books in the Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) collection can be paired with a book box or a field trip to a child’s backyard or city park. Book boxes may be created using items from the story, like eggshells or leaves, or you might consider adding texture to the pages of a book you own using such items as felt, cloth, or sandpaper. Go on nature walks to explore and collect different items from the outdoors such as soil, grass, leaves, tree branches or flowers. You could also go to a zoo or visit an animal shelter and let your child interact with animals, including reptiles, birds, and fish.  

See this TBBL blog post for ideas and book titles you can use for some fun and educational projects and reading activities to enhance the experience for a child who has low vision or is blind.  These activities will add objects that the child can feel, hear, smell or even taste!

Happy reading and exploring!

Are you ready to celebrate Children’s Book Week on May 5-11? This year, the Children’s Book Council (CBC) has announced the Children’s Book Week theme as “An Ocean of Stories.” The CBC is providing libraries and young readers with numerous resources including downloadable bookmarks, activity pages, poems, and even story starters. These story starters are a great way to let a young reader’s imagination run wild and create a story that is unique to them. 

All these resources are easily accessible on the Every Child a Reader website. Join in celebrating Children’s Book Week by spreading the joy of reading and children’s books and downloading these free resources!
 

In New York state, nearly one in five children experience food insecurity. Over the course of many years, Hunger Solutions New York has worked with the NYS Library and libraries in the state to address food insecurity in local communities. In the recent webinar How Libraries Can Alleviate Hunger Now, Misha Marvel from Hunger Solutions NY provides updated information on how libraries can share information about programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT). 

Watch the recording of this webinar to find out how your library can connect with Summer Meals sites or become one, and help alleviate hunger for children and families throughout your community! This webinar is available on the NYS Library’s Summer Meals Program page, and a passcode (listed on the site) is required to access. 

This year, CSLP is teaming up with New York Times best-selling author Katherine Applegate and Macmillan Publishing Group to present the Color Our World Writing Contest! Storytellers aged 8-12 are encouraged to write a short story about how action can change someone’s day for the better. Within these short stories, the writing contest aims to celebrate themes of community, empathy and resilience among young readers and writers.

The grand prize winner of the writing contest will receive a virtual writing workshop with Katherine Applegate, signed copies of Willodeen, Crenshaw, Odder and wishtree, along with $500 worth of books from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. Three runner-ups will receive signed copies of Willodeen, Crenshaw, Odder and wishtree. Participation in the contest is free and entries are open from June 1 – July 31, 2025. This is a great way to engage families and young readers and writers in your library to get them more involved in Summer Reading!

Find all the relevant information and rules for entry on the Color Our World Writing Contest page. Sign up to receive promotional materials that can help your library promote the contest throughout your library community. 

This year, SciStarter, STAR Net, and the Collaborative Summer Library Program have come together to share ideas and help support libraries promote the 2025 Summer Reading theme, Color Our World through citizen science.

The Color Our World with Citizen Science Resource list provides libraries with helpful resources that allow children to learn about everything from space to the deep sea. This list includes online resources to explore such as NASA’s Globe Observer, hands-on activities like Aurora Chalk Art and Build-a-Bug, and additional resources such as Kit-Building Guides for library staff.

Interested in learning more? Watch the LIVE #95: Color Our World with Citizen Science: From Space to Sea webinar that took place on February 4, 2025, or register for these upcoming webinars:

• Summer Fun for All Ages with GLOBE Citizen Science, March 4th, 9AM EST 
• Preparing for One Million Acts of Science at Your Library, March 5th, 2PM EST

These sessions will help library staff get more great ideas for incorporating citizen science into library programming for all ages!
 

Are you prepared for Children’s Book Week this year? From May 5-11 and November 3-9, many young readers across the country will celebrate the joy of reading children’s books by participating in literacy programs and events throughout local schools, libraries, bookstores and even at home. 

The Children’s Book Council’s initiative, Every Child a Reader, has just revealed the 2025 Children’s Book Week poster created by the talented artist Julie Flett. The poster perfectly complements this year’s Children's Book Week theme of “An Ocean of Stories” and can be used in libraries, schools, and other public spaces to promote participation. Participation is free, and libraries or schools that register will receive two free copies of the Book Week posters. Families can even register and receive posters at home! 

More resources like promotional materials and participation ideas will be revealed in the coming months. Librarians, teachers and even parents are encouraged to participate in Children’s Book Week, and the registration form is available on the Every Child a Reader website.  

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is excited to announce that this year’s Summer Reading Champion is the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Katherine Applegate!

Many young adult readers and library staff know and love Katherine’s books, such as Odder, Wishtree, Willodeen, and Crenshaw, to name a few. Katherine’s love for libraries and passion for summer reading is inspiring and encourages us to unleash the imagination of readers of all ages. 

On March 5, Katherine will be featured in CSLP’s 2025 Summer Reading kickoff event, which will include information about this summer’s Color Our World Writing Contest as well as exciting program ideas from the CSLP Manual Committee. 

Register for the free March 5 Summer Reading Champion Kickoff.