Summer Reading is for Everyone!

East Hartford, CT - Summer reading is for everyone! The East Hartford Public Library has a summer reading incentive programs with prizes for adults, teens, school-aged children and preschoolers. New this year, we'll have incentives and prizes for toddlers and babies, too! Registration begins on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 when participants can start logging their reading into our mobile-friendly online system. The library summer reading program also counts towards the Governor’s Summer Reading challenge, a project of the Connecticut State Library and the CT Department of Education. 

 

Preschoolers, school-aged children, and teens will earn a prize just for signing up! To earn points on ReadSquared, children and teens can set a reading goal and log book titles they've read.  Prizes aren’t just for the kids! Our adult summer reading has prizes, too. New this summer, we'll also be launching our "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. This is a year-round program to help promote early literacy skills in our youngest patrons. Register and receive prizes for hitting milestones along the way to reading 1,000 books together. 

 

To register for summer reading, visit the library’s website (www.easthartfordct.gov/library) and click on the “Summer Reading” menu item on the left side of our website. Click on the link for the relevant program: preschool, children’s, teen, or adult. We’re using ReadSquared software again this summer, which can also be downloaded as an app to easily log activity wherever you are this summer. The ReadSquared app is available in the iTunes and Google Play stores. The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program also uses ReadSquared, just choose which program you'd like when you sign-up.

 

Children registered for Parks & Recreation camp will be registered at camp. Parents/caregivers will receive a confirmation notice of registration at the e-mail they provided to Parks & Recreation including log-in information and instructions for how to participate.

  

Celebrate the start of summer with us at our Summer Reading Kick-Off Party on Wednesday, June 7 from 5:30-7pm. Join us on the front lawn of the Raymond Library to register in-person for summer reading, meet community partners and enjoy a performance! In the event of rain or inclement weather, the event will be held indoors. Not sure what to read? The Children's Department will host a "Book Tasting" event from June 8^th - June 16th. School-aged children are invited to stop by and sample different books to find what you like best. We'll have mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, biography, and more!

 

Preschoolers, school-aged children, and teens can join us during our programs throughout the summer for opportunities to log more books towards your goal, such as Book Buddies, Summer Stories, Pajama Storytime, and more! For all of our upcoming summer events, visit our calendar online at https://easthartfordct.libcal.com. For detailed program information, visit our website and click on “events calendar.” This summer, we have programs for all ages. For our outdoor programs, register for a reminder, and to be notified in the event of weather-related cancelations.  

To register for summer reading and programs for all ages, visit our website: www.easthartfordct.gov/library or call us at 860.290.4330. Visit us at both our locations, Raymond Library and Wickham Library. Our newly remodeled Wickham Branch is located on 656 Burnside Ave., East Hartford, CT and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10AM –5PM and Tuesdays, Thursdays from 1PM –8PM. The Raymond Library is located at 840 Main St., East Hartford, CT and is open Mondays and Fridays from 9 AM – 5 PM, and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 AM – 8 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM – 2 PM. Happy reading!