Summer Reading Program

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Read. Read. Read. 

There’s a Summer Reading Challenge for every age. Earn prizes with our mobile-friendly software–it’s easier than ever to register families together and to update several individual reading logs at the same time. 

Register and track your reading from June 3, 2024, to July 31, 2024. 
Claim your prizes: TBA

Try something new 

Reading is one of many ways we learn. Engage with special programs and performers to meet new people, think new thoughts, and sample new skills. 

Get curious 

Summer is a unique season when many people, particularly those in school, have extra unstructured time to explore their own interests. The Library applauds self-directed discovery and has a wealth of materials and friendly helpers to support explorers on their journeys. 

Why summertime learning matters

Summertime learning, particularly through self-directed reading, is an important way to combat the summer slide. Help your kids maintain–or even improve–their hard-won reading skills with regular visits to the library this summer.

And model reading by reading to them, and letting them see you read, too.

2024 Youth Summer Reading Sponsors: TBA

Summer Reading Program FAQs 2024: Coming Soon

Track your reading

Kids (ages 0-11) may choose to earn one point per minute of reading, or 15 points per picture book read or read to you.

Teens (ages 12-17) and Adults (ages 18+) earn one point per minute of reading.

Babies and toddlers, can also download the Baby & Toddler Challenge Sheet or pick one up at the Summer Reading Desk, or at a Babytime or Toddlertime session.

Easier family tracking

ReadSquared, our online tracking software, continues to respond to the feedback you’ve given us the past few years. This year’s version of the app is a big leap forward. We think you’ll find it easier and more intuitive to log your reading points.

Check it out and tell us what you think.

There is no need for frequent log-ins. You can update your log in large batches, and enter as many points as you need on any day. Take it easy, keep it simple–we only need the total points earned and the total missions completed, so don’t worry about getting the dates right. 

We’ll offer a downloadable paper log to help with day-to-day organization between log-ins. Whenever it’s convenient, someone can update the online record.

If online record-keeping is difficult for you, please remember that you’re welcome to bring a device here and use the Library’s free WiFi, and there may be volunteers available at a Summer Reading Table to help, too.

Prizes

Children, teens and adults will earn an entry in a prize drawing for every 300 points they earn, up to 1,500 points.

Readers will be automatically entered into the prize drawing. Prize drawing tickets are virtual and do not need to be picked up at the library.

Children and teens will earn a Book Buck for every 300 points they log, up to 1200 points. Book Bucks can be picked up at the second-floor summer reading table.

Book Bucks can be used to purchase books or prizes in a small Book Buck Store beginning June 12. The Book Buck Store is open on the second floor during regular library hours.

Adults will earn a Prize Voucher at 300 points. Prize Vouchers can be picked up at the second-floor summer reading table or third-floor service desk.

Exchange your Prize Voucher at the third-floor service desk beginning June 12 during regular library hours.

Babies and toddlers can exchange their completed Challenge Sheet for a bottle of bubbles at the 2nd Floor Summer Reading Table June 12 – July 31.

Library cards for everyone

In May 2015, the Round Rock City Council removed non-residence fees for Library users. Any Texas resident aged 6 and older may receive a library card, including individuals who live outside the city limits. Applicants younger than 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present to receive their card.

Learn more about getting a library card here.

Anyone can participate in this summer’s events and reading challenges; no Round Rock Public Library card is required, although you are welcome to apply for one.

The Summer Reading Challenges runs June 5, 2023 – July 31, 2023.

Child, teen, and adult participants in the Community Reading Challenge may begin counting their reading on June 5, 2023.

Children, teens and adults will earn an entry in a prize drawing for every 300 points they earn, up to 1,500 points.

Readers will be automatically entered into the prize drawing. Prize drawing tickets are virtual and do not need to be picked up at the library. Winners will be notified by email at the end of the summer. 

Children and teens will earn a Book Buck for every 300 points they log, up to 1200 points. Book Bucks can be picked up at the second-floor summer reading table.

Book Bucks can be used to purchase books or prizes in a small Book Buck Store beginning June 12. The Book Buck Store is open on the second floor during regular library hours.

Adults will earn a Prize Voucher at 300 points. Prize Vouchers can be picked up at the second-floor summer reading table or third-floor service desk.

Exchange your Prize Voucher at the third-floor service desk beginning June 12 during regular library hours.

Babies and toddlers can exchange their completed Baby & Toddler Challenge Sheet for a bottle of bubbles at the 2nd Floor Summer Reading Table June 12 – July 31.

Children, teens, and adults

Readers may read or listen to any type of written content.  This includes books, eBooks, magazines, online content, and any sort of printed or digital content  from the Library or from other sources. (Yes, that includes cereal boxes!)

Did you know that listening to someone read is great exercise for your brain, no matter how old you are and how well you can read? Because of this, please be sure to count the minutes you listen to audiobooks, listen to content from our databases, and listen to someone read aloud.

Readers complete the challenge at 1,500 points.

Can I count time that I spend reading to children?

Yes.

Can I join the reading challenge after its official start date?

Yes.

Can I count reading that I’ve done before the official start date?

We ask that you count only reading you’ve done within the official dates of the challenge.

Yes! As of May 2015, any Texas resident aged 6 and up is welcome to get a Round Rock Library card at no additional charge; the city residency restrictions of past years have been removed.

Proof of current address and a photo ID are required. To get a library card for a minor, the parent or guardian must be present to sign the card agreement.

Click here to learn more about getting a library card.

The Library has contracted with ReadSquared to provide an online logging system for the Summer Reading Challenge. (Here’s an FAQ about ReadSquared security)

The Library collects information that allows staff to accomplish three goals:

  1. To connect reading accomplishments to individual users,
  2. To resolve user-reported issues, and
  3. To assess the program’s effectiveness

This information includes:

  • Some sort of name to identify the user. NOTE: You are not required to use your real name. Feel free to use initials or  a nickname, as long as you can remember what you used. Staff will not have any way to figure it out the name you chose if you do not remember it.
  • Contact information so staff can:
    — Notify users about prizes,
    — Resolve issues users may have complained about, including resetting forgotten passwords, and
    — Ask for feedback in the form of an optional survey
  • General statistical information that allows Library staff to assess overall trends in participation. This information includes the ages and school attendance patterns of participants, which helps staff determine whether outreach efforts are effective

Information is limited to these purposes, and is not shared or distributed.

Data on ReadSquared is stored encrypted on secured servers and is viewed by ReadSquared only for issue resolution or training for the Round Rock Public Library.

See the ReadSquared privacy policy for more information.

ReadSquared’s privacy policy refers to its clients–in this case, Round Rock Public Library–as “your reading program sponsor.” ReadSquared does not determine which the information the Library collects. To learn more about the information the Library collects and how it is used, please read our FAQ on the topic.

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