2024 Summer Reading Kicks Off June 15

May 20, 2024 12:28 PM

Santa Monica Public Library invites the community to participate in SANTA MONICA READS All Summer. The summer reading program for all ages, launches June 15 and runs through August 10, 2024.  

Sign up in person starting June 15 at the Main LibraryMontana Avenue Branch, or Pico Branch, or visit smpl.beanstack.org to register online and learn about our free summer events for everyone, from babies to adults.

The Summer Reading program helps prevent “summer slide” by ensuring that youth retain reading and learning skills over the school break.  Parents can sign up their babies and receive a free board book. Kids and teens can sign up for 10 and 20-hour challenges, and receive a tote bag, coupon from the Friends of the Library Bookstore, and log to track reading minutes and activities during the summer. At the halfway mark and upon completing their challenge, kids and teens can choose from a variety of fun prizes, while supplies last.

Adults join in the summer reading fun by participating in the adult summer reading program which features, Los Angeles County’s inaugural “One Book, One County” program. The selected title is L.A. Weather by Maria Amparo Escandon. Those interested in joining Santa Monica Public Library’s book discussions will receive a free copy of the book upon signing up for summer reading, as well as a reading log, bookmark, and coupon from the Friends of the Library Bookstore, while supplies last. Read 600 minutes by the end of the program and be entered in a drawing for five local business gift certificates.

The library is hosting a kickoff party for the youth summer reading program on Saturday, June 15 from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Main Library. Celebrate the first day of summer reading with fun activities and a magic show.  Get dazzled by the amazing Zany Zoe, enjoy sweet treats, and take pictures with special guests. 

Beginning in July, the Montana Branch becomes a hybrid location, by offering self-service hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. prior to the library opening for full-service at noon. More information about self service hours can be found at smpl.org/SelfServiceHours  

SANTA MONICA READS All Summer is provided through funding from the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library, Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica, and the California State Library.  For more information on this, and other free, public programs, call Santa Monica Library at (310) 458-8600 or visit smpl.org.  Library services are currently available 24/7 at SMPL Online.  Contact a friendly library staffer, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., via telephone or email us at library@santamonica.gov.

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Media Contact

Karen Reitz
Librarian III Adult Services & Programs Manager
Karen.Reitz@santamonica.gov

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