Simsbury Public Library

Summer Reading

 

Join the 2026 Summer Reading Program

Join the 2026 Summer Reading Program to receive great prizes, attend fun events, and enjoy books of your choosing! Simsbury Shines when we focus on community connections and kindness. This year we are partnering with Simsbury Social Services to support residents in need by giving back, because the need to fill the Pantry doesn’t take a vacation. Be someone’s sunshine this season: we’ll be collecting non-food items such as household cleaning supplies and personal care items for the Pantry throughout the Summer Reading Program. Community connections are made at the library and we can make a big difference on the local level!

Children, teens, and adults who are participating in the Summer Reading Program can earn raffle tickets for visiting the library. You can earn one raffle ticket per person, per day when you visit the library during the Summer Reading Program (June 22 – August 15).  This year you can earn an additional raffle ticket for donating household cleaning supplies and personal care items. Families will earn one additional raffle ticket per household per day if they bring a donation. See our display for additional details and a specific list of acceptable items. 

We are using Beanstack again this year for Summer Reading and to log your books. If you participated in past Summer Reading Programs, please sign in using the same account/email address as last year. Then you can enroll in 2026 Summer Reading. If you forgot your password, you can easily reset it here, or ask library staff for help.

Who: All ages. Summer Reading is our largest intergenerational program. We have something for everyone: babies, children, teens, adults, and seniors. 

When: Summer Reading runs for 8 weeks: Monday, 6/22-Saturday, 8/15. You’ll have access to your account through mid-September, to allow you to continue logging books throughout August and in case you want to print your reading log for back-to-school.

Read: Log your reading each week. You can read anything you want: books, ebooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, magazines, newspaper articles, etc. It all counts. Need suggestions? Check out our recommended summer reading displays at the library for children in preschool through 6th grade. 

Get Books: You don’t have to read library books to participate in Summer Reading, but if your stack is in need of a refresh, you can visit the library to browse or request specific titles in our online catalog to place on hold. You can also borrow ebooks and audiobooks via Libby with your library card.

SIGN IN with your account from last year & LOG YOUR BOOKS HERE

Forgot your Beanstack password? Reset your password here!

If you’ve never used Beanstack before, you can register/create a new account. 

Adult Sign Up Prize – Adults who sign up for the 2026 Summer Reading Program will receive a packet of 4 notecards featuring artwork by local artist, Marianne Hadley Berman, while supplies last. (Teens can choose to do the Adult Summer Reading Program and select this prize, instead of the teen prizes, if they wish.) Adults will also have the chance to earn a 5th, limited edition notecard if they complete an activity pamphlet. See the Information Desk upstairs to collect this prize.

Teens Weekly Prizes – Teens can check in at the Information Desk upstairs to play Plinko and claim a prize each week for reading. 

Kids Weekly Prizes – Kids who participate in the 2026 Summer Reading Program will receive one prize per week, while supplies last. You must visit the library during that week to pick-up your prize. If you miss a week, you may be able to get that item in the week 8 “Grab Bag.” (The prizes will switch over to the next week on SUNDAY in Beanstack, but prizes for the week will be picked up Monday-Saturday since the library is closed on Sundays in July and August).

  • Week 1: Mon, June 22-Sat, June 27: Read-Along Trading Card
  • Week 2: Sun, June 28-Thurs, July 2*: BOGO Ticket to Hartford Athletic game (professional soccer)  
  • Week 3: Sun, July 5-Sat, July 11: Rainbow Lollipop
  • Week 4: Sun, July 12-Sat, July 18: Free Kids Combo from Raising Cane’s
  • Week 5: Sun, July 19-Sat, July 25: Squishy Toy 
  • Week 6: Sun, July 26-Sat, August 1: Free Cookie from Fitzgerald’s Foods
  • Week 7: Sun, August 2-Sat, August 8: Free Ice Cream from Ben & Jerry’s
  • Week 8: Sun, August 9-Sat, August 15: Grab Bag (pick a prize of your choice, sponsored by the FSPL & Dixon Orthodontics)

*the Library is closed 7/3 & 7/4 in observance of Independence Day

Visit to Win Raffle Prizes: This year we have more raffle prizes than ever before, including new Summer Reading Sponsors for 2026! You can earn one raffle ticket per person, per day during the Summer Reading Program and one extra raffle ticket for bringing a donation. You must come into the building to receive the ticket and to fill it out with your name and phone number. Enter to win gift cards from the local business(es) of your choice. The week of August 17th we’ll randomly select and notify raffle prize winners. The more days you visit the library this summer, the more chances you’ll have to win.

Attend Events: We have a great schedule of programs and events for all ages. Some children’s programs require advance registration, and registration will open two weeks prior to the event date. 

Connect: Don’t forget to connect with us (and your neighbors) via social media on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Our Summer Reading Program is offered in partnership with the Simsbury Public Schools and is sponsored by the Friends of the Simsbury Public Library. 

Friends of the Simsbury Public Library