Summer Reading 2023

Stop by any Santa Barbara Public Library location or find our Library on the Go Van around town to pick out your very own free book and summer reading gameboard. You can also track your reading online. Children age 0-5 are encouraged to join 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.

We want to hear all about what you're reading! Visit with Library staff and talk about books to earn a surprise! Get creative when you set your own reading goal on your gameboard. When you accomplish your reading goal, come back to the Library in July or August to collect special beads.

Teens: Ages 12-17
Adults: Ages 18+

Read with SBPL this summer! You are invited to participate in the annual Summer Reading Challenge.

How to participate:

• Sign up in person at any of our Library locations, including the Library on the Go van and pick up a DIY reading journal to document and track your reading goal for the summer OR
• Sign up online via Beanstack to virtually document and track your reading goal for the summer

What is a reading goal?

Your reading goal is specific to you and your goals for reading this summer! You will choose the number of books you want to read this summer and can document your progress using a journal provided, online via Beanstack, or any other way that works for you

What happens when I complete my reading goal?

Visit any library branch between July and August 19 and let a library staff member know you’ve completed your SRP reading goal and enter the prize drawing.

What do I do with the DIY reading journal?

The journal is an optional tool to help you document and track your reading progress this summer. There are no rules! Feel free to draw or write what comes to mind when reading this summer.

Teens: Looking for a way to volunteer this summer? Review books for us to get volunteer hours and help other teens find great books to read! You can also get volunteer hours every Wednesday at Central Library 4 - 5:30pm at Teen Volunteer Time! Check our calendar for special teen events, too!

Adults: Looking for book suggestions to kick off your summer reading? Check out our Book Match program for personalized recommendations from one of our librarians.

Prefer to track your reading online? Sign up online starting on June 10. Kids, don’t forget to stop by the Library for your free book after you sign up!

Participating online? Read this:

• Create an account on Beanstack 
• Challenge badge: When you register for the Summer Reading Program on Beanstack, you get this badge, and if you’re a child, you get a free book as a prize! Visit any library branch to pick up your free book.
• Activity badge: Click on "My Reading Goal This Summer." Type in your reading goal, (it's up to you!). When you reach the goal, choose the "Did you complete your Reading Goal?" badge, add some thoughts about your reading this summer, and click "save." Now that you've completed your reading goal, you are invited to visit any library branch between July and August to pick up a prize pack (children) or between July and August 19 to enter the prize drawing (teens and adults).
• Logging badges:  Every time you complete a book, choose an available logging badge to track your reading goal