Head to the Library for Free Summer Fun, Books and Prizes

Days at the beach, riding bikes, hanging with friends. Popsicles! There’s so much for children to look forward to during summer. The extended break from the classroom is a great time to encourage children to relax and read for fun. Reading for pleasure helps build and maintain skills and foster a love of books and learning. As you plan your family’s activities, plan to visit your library!

Summer Reading Challenge 

Virginia Beach Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Challenge (SRC), offered June 10 to Aug. 17, encourages children to read for fun and win prizes, as they complete age-appropriate reading goals. Participating is easy – just register your child online, or they can register themselves, and begin logging what they read. Children ages 3 to eighth grade can choose from picture or chapter book options and collect celebration tags along the way. There’s also a Baby & Me program (ages birth to 2) to help build early literacy skills. Completion prizes for all programs include a free book to keep.

Visit the library each week to check out books, pick up prizes and attend free programs presented by Teeny Tiny Farm, Ryan the Balloon Guy, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach Fire Safety, Ballet Virginia, Nauticus, the Children’s Museum and more. Find the “Bad Kitty” plushie (from the popular book series) hiding in the library and get a special sticker!   Be sure to log reading and pick up all prizes for SRC by Aug. 17.

Free Fun for Everyone 

While SRC is designed for children, Virginia Beach Public Library offers a year-round Teen Readers Society and Adult Reading Challenge, and thousands of free programs for all ages. For details about all library offerings, visit Libraries.VirginiaBeach.gov.   

The Summer Reading Challenge is funded by the Friends of Virginia Beach Public Library and Virginia Beach Library Foundation.