Summer at Your Library reading challenge, events kick off June 1 in Central Florida
Orange County Library System youth services librarian Annie Myers explains how learners of all ages can participate in the library’s summer reading challenge, events and activities
SUMMER BREAK IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER HERE FOR STUDENTS ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA. AND OUR LOCAL LIBRARIES ARE COMING UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE OF ALL AGES CONTINUE LEARNING BEYOND THE SCHOOL BELL. JOINING ME NOW IS YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN AT THE ORANGE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM, ANNIE MEYERS. ANNIE, WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. THANKS FOR COMING ON TODAY. OKAY. WE’RE SO EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT JUST SUMMER BREAK AND READING AND GETTING ALL THE KIDS AND ADULTS INTO THE LIBRARY. OKAY, SO TELL US ABOUT YOUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM. WHAT IS IT? HOW DOES IT WORK? ANNIE? OKAY, SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES GOING ON ACROSS THE ENTIRE LIBRARY SYSTEM, ALL 15 LOCATIONS. SO SUMMER YOUR LIBRARY, IT DOES INCLUDE READING, BUT IT’S, IT’S BEYOND JUST READING AS WELL. WE’VE GOT ACTIVITIES, WE’VE GOT PRESENTERS COMING IN AND OF COURSE, WE’VE GOT OUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE HERE. SO WE HAVE THESE CHALLENGE BOOKLETS THAT ARE FOR ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGE. THEY ARE FOR KIDS AS WELL AS ALL THE WAY UP TO ADULTS. SO THERE IS AN ADULT SUMMER READING CHALLENGE. I LOVE THIS, SO WHAT DOES IT TELL ME IN THE CHALLENGE? WHAT DOES IT SAY HERE? YEAH, ALL OF THEM HAVE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES IN THEM. OKAY, THIS IS GREAT. JUST KIND OF TAKES YOU THROUGH AND THEN YOU SET YOUR GOALS FOR THE MONTH. IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH. SO WE’RE ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TO TRY TO BUILD A HABIT OF READING. SO IT’S, IT’S MORE ABOUT INSTEAD OF HITTING A SPECIFIC MINUTE GOAL, IT’S MORE ABOUT BUILDING THAT, LIKE THAT HABIT OF READING EVERY DAY. SO WE’RE ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TO TRY TO READ OVER THE COURSE OF 30 DAYS OVER SUMMER. SO 20 MINUTES A DAY OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 30 DAYS. YOU KNOW, THAT GETS YOU YOUR READING GOAL. THAT’S GREAT. I LOVE THIS. OKAY, I THINK THAT I’M GOING TO DO THIS IN THE SUMMERTIME. OKAY, GUYS, WE’RE ALL GOING TO SIT DOWN. THIS IS OUR TIME, RIGHT? YEAH. OKAY. SO FOR FOLKS THAT ARE LISTENING, THE VIEWERS ARE WATCHING. THEY’RE THINKING, WAIT, THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. IT’S INDOORS IN THE SUMMER HEAT. DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LIBRARY CARD, THOUGH, TO GO TO THE BRANCHES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS? SO TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGE? NO, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY COME AND YOU CAN YOU CAN GRAB A TRACKER. THE NICE THING IS FOR OUR YOUTH, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0 TO 18, IF YOU COME IN, YOU PICK UP A TRACKER, YOU CAN GET A FREE SUMMER SIGNUP BOOK AS WELL. SO YOU DON’T ACTUALLY NEED A LIBRARY CARD TO COME IN, GET YOUR TRACKER, SIGN UP FOR SIGN UP FOR THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE. SOME OF THE EVENTS. IF YOU’RE LOOKING@SCHOOLS.ORG AND SEEING THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND STUFF, DEFINITELY CHECK TO MAKE SURE IF REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NEED A LIBRARY CARD TO SIGN UP FOR THAT, BECAUSE THERE’S CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, SPACES WE NEED TO GET SUPPLIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE JUST WANT YOU TO COME IN AND EXPLORE THE LIBRARY. I LOVE IT. AND WHY WOULD YOU SAY JUST LIKE I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I’M A PARENT, BUT IT’S THAT SUMMER SLIDE IS REAL. YEAH. SO IF YOU DON’T, YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH IT SOMEWHAT. I KNOW THE KIDS DON’T LOVE TO HEAR THAT, BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY THAT THAT’S SO IMPORTANT? THEM TO DO SO. ABSOLUTELY. AND IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE BOOKS THAT YOU MAYBE WERE ASSIGNED TO READ OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OBVIOUSLY THAT COUNTS IF YOU HAVE SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS FROM SCHOOL, BUT PICKING UP BOOKS THAT YOU LIKE, YOUR GRAPHIC NOVELS, YOUR AUDIOBOOKS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS COUNT AS READING SO THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THAT SUMMER READING CHALLENGE BY DOING THOSE THINGS AS WELL. IN A WAY THAT’S REALLY FUN FOR THEM, AND A WAY THAT GETS YOU PRIZES TOO. BECAUSE IF YOU BRING BACK IN YOUR TRACKER AFTER JULY 1ST, YOU CAN GET A GOODY BAG WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. OH, I LOVE THAT. OKAY. THAT’S GREAT. AND LET ME ASK YOU THIS TOO. I JUST KNOW LIKE, I USED TO LOVE GOING TO THE KIND OF THE MOMMY AND ME MUSIC CLASSES AT THE LIBRARY AND THAT KIND OF THING. SO FOR, FOR, FOR PEOPLE WATCHING, WHAT OTHER KIND OF ACTIVITIES DO YOU GUYS HAVE GOING ON THIS SUMMER? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED ALREADY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT HAPPENING IN ADDITION TO THE READING. YEAH. SO WE HAVE WE HAVE OUR BUBBLE SOUNDS FUN. CIRCUS DOGS ALWAYS A BLAST. ALWAYS A BLAST. THE ZOO. AND THEN ALSO OUR LOCAL PROGRAMS AS WELL. WE HAVE COOKING PROGRAMS, WE HAVE STORYTIMES AND ACTIVITIES AND ART CLASSES THAT ARE THEMED FOR OUR SUMMER CHALLENGE AS WELL. SO THERE’S NEW STUFF. EVEN IF YOU’RE A LIBRARY REGULAR, THERE’S NEW SUMMER STUFF TO COME TOO. I LOVE THAT I’LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE ART CLASSES FOR THE ARTISTS. YEAH, IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE ONE. OKAY, WELL, AND JUST TO FIND OUT ANY INFORMATION, WHERE CAN WE ALL GO? CLAIRE.ORG/SUMMER. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER. AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER REMINDER HERE WE ARE PUTTING THIS UP THERE. YOU CAN TRACK YOUR PROGRESS. YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN PRIZES THE SUMMER AT YOUR LIBRARY. IT’S A GREAT OPTION FOR SO MANY FAMILIES. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. HAVE A GREAT SUMMER, EVERYONE.
Summer at Your Library reading challenge, events kick off June 1 in Central Florida
Orange County Library System youth services librarian Annie Myers explains how learners of all ages can participate in the library’s summer reading challenge, events and activities
Updated: 9:28 AM EDT May 19, 2026
Summer at Your Library kicks off June 1 and runs through July 26 at the Orange County Library System (OCLS). The summer reading program challenges youth and adults to track their progress over the course of 30 days for the chance to win prizes. OCLS will also host a lineup of interactive programs for all ages including special presenters like the Atlantic Coast Theater, Comedy Maks Variety Show and Grammy Award-winning artist Fyütch. >> Watch the full interview in the video player above.Click here to learn more.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Summer at Your Library kicks off June 1 and runs through July 26 at the Orange County Library System (OCLS).
The summer reading program challenges youth and adults to track their progress over the course of 30 days for the chance to win prizes.
OCLS will also host a lineup of interactive programs for all ages including special presenters like the Atlantic Coast Theater, Comedy Maks Variety Show and Grammy Award-winning artist Fyütch.
>> Watch the full interview in the video player above.
Click here to learn more.