Summer With the Library
Discover, play, and read all summer long with New Castle County Libraries! Libraries are offering a wide variety of virtual events over the summer for all ages, including storytimes, music, craft activities, teen time, senior activities, book clubs, tech assistance, financial literacy, and more. Families can also challenge themselves by participating in our reading program.
New Castle County Libraries are offering a wide variety of free virtual programs over the summer. For all ages, the programs include storytimes, music and motion, craft activities, teen time, health and wellness, senior programs, homework help, book clubs, tech help, financial literacy, and so much more.
The Library will also be offering access to special performances. Performers include Ran’d Shine, Barn Hill Preserve, Marshall Steam Museum, Kalmar Nyckel, and Silly Joe to name a few. To view a complete list of available programs and activities and to find out how to register, visit our online calendar.
Register for Summer With the Library and Log Your Reading with Beanstack
New Castle County Library’s Online Summer With the Library Program also means the chance to win prizes for reading, learning, and trying new things. Children who register for the reading challenge automatically earn a badge book while supplies last. Read and learn with us this summer!
Here's how it works:
1. Create an account with Beanstack. If you have children, you can add your child(ren) to your account as a reader. If you already have an account simply log in and sign up for this year’s challenge (https://nccde.beanstack.org). Need help? Contact your local library.
2. Log your reading between June 1 and August 20, 2022. Children log the time spent reading and their completed activities and adults log the books read on Beanstack’s website or in the Beanstack Tracker app.(Apple or Android)
3. Children will receive a book for the first 150 points earned.
4. Adults who read 4 books may be eligible for a prize. Contact your local library for additional details.
For more information log into Beanstack and read our FAQ or contact your local library.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
New Castle County Libraries invite you to participate in this free program which encourages you to read 1,000 books with your child before he or she begins kindergarten. For more information, check out what New Castle County Libraries have to offer (PDF) or visit www.1000booksbeforekindergarten.org.
Summer Reading Programs are Free, Fun, and Promote Literacy!
The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children and families to read a variety of materials for pleasure and to have fun all summer long. The program is also designed to help children of all ages develop and maintain their literacy skills over the summer.
Experts in the fields of child brain development and reading research agree that literacy skills develop early and are strengthened when children read during the summer months. For a compilation of the latest research on avoiding the ‘summer slide’ and the importance of reading during the summer months visit SummerLearning.Org
We believe that when children read what they enjoy, they learn to love reading and become better readers. With this understanding we can all work together to effectively create life-long readers.