Kids' Summer Reading Programs 2024

Welcome to our Adventure Begins Here Kids' Summer Reading Program.
We have so many great things planned for you!

Keep reading through the summer to collect stickers, take-home crafts, and prizes. 
Come to any of our library locations for exciting events every week.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Summer Kick-Off Events

  Summer Reading Kick-off Party at the Lakeland Public Library
  Join us for an exciting summer adventure as we kick off our journey with a real plane at the library! Experience the thrill of petting a plane, engage in aviation activities, and grab your summer reading log at our Summer Reading Kickoff Party. All ages welcome. No registration required.

  Lakeland Public Library
  Friday, May 31 from 10 am - 12 pm

   

  *Due to limited space and the nature of the events, summer camps, daycares, and groups cannot be accommodated. 

  ---

  Summer Reading Kick-off Party at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library
  Begin your summer adventure at the library with our Summer Reading Kick-Off Party and Touch-A-Truck! See unique vehicles including construction equipment with the City of Lakeland's Public Works Department and the Polk County Library Cooperative Bookmobile! Enjoy crafts, games, and snacks, and pick up your summer reading log. All ages welcome. No registration required.

  Larry R. Jackson Branch Library
  Saturday, June 1 from 2 pm - 4 pm

  *Due to limited space and the nature of the events, summer camps, daycares, and groups cannot be accommodated. 

• Reading Logs and Weekly Prizes

  Pick up your reading log at any Lakeland Library location or download a PDF version of the Youth Summer Reading Log to print.
  Read at least 3 days each week and have your adult sign in the circle provided for each week.
  Bring your log in to any Lakeland Library to get your sticker and a free prize every week.

• Take Home Crafts

  Summer Reading participants can pick up a take-home craft kit each week at any Lakeland Library. 
  New kits will be available each Monday.  Each week’s craft is the same at each location.

• Reading with the Rays

  Reading with the Rays is back.  Pick up your game sheet at any Lakeland Library.  Track your time spent reading by rounding the bases and collecting Rays prizes along the way. 

• Polk County Mining Mayhem

  

  Visit select Polk County Public Libraries from June 1st through July 31st and explore each of their biomes. Complete a challenge for each biome to earn a prize and add a sticker on your map. Collect all the stickers to be entered into a raffle to win a Minecraft Family Gift Basket, including 4 tickets to LEGOLAND Florida!

  You can pick up a map at any of the participating public libraries to begin your adventure!

• Movie Mondays at Jackson Branch

  Every Monday all summer long, enjoy a movie with snacks at the library, each based around our weekly theme. All ages are welcome, no registration required.

  June 3^rd 2-3:30 pm: Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) Rated PG

  June 10^th 2-3:30 pm: The Super Mario Bros Movie (2023) Rated PG

  June 17^th 2-3:30 pm: Trolls Band Together (2023) Rated PG

  June 24^th 2-3:30 pm: Lightyear (2022) Rated PG

  July 1^st 2-3:30 pm: Wish (2023) Rated PG

  July 8^th 2-3:30 pm: The Little Mermaid (2023) Rated PG

  July 15^th 10-11:30 am: Mummies (2023) Rated PG

  July 22^nd 2-3:30 pm: Abominable (2019) Rated PG

  July 29^th 2-3:30 pm: Wonka (2023) Rated PG

• Spools Out for Summer! Sewing Camps

  

  Sewing is a fun, creative outlet that develops dexterity, fine motor skills, patience, and self-confidence.

  In each four-day sewing series, participants will learn how to use a sewing machine, basic stitches, and hand-sewing skills as they make fun projects to take home.

  Registration is required and will open one week before classes begin. Registration is for all four (4) classes in the camp, but seating is limited. If you are registering more than one child for the series, you will need to register each child separately to reserve a seat for each.

  **NOTE: If you have attended any Spools Out for Summer kids or teens camp or Learn to Sew for Kids previously, you are not eligible to register for this learn-to-sew series. Any repeat registrants will be removed from the list.**

  Larry R. Jackson Branch Meeting Room 
  Session 5: Monday, July 15 – Thursday, July 18 @ 2 pm (teens, ages 13-17)
  Session 6: Monday, July 22 – Thursday, July 25 @ 10 am (youth, ages 9-13) 

*Due to limited space and the nature of the events, we cannot accommodate summer camps, daycares, or groups*

EVENTS

• 

  Summer Storytimes at Lakeland Libraries

  Storytime is on for the summer! All three Lakeland Library locations have preschool storytimes for children ages 2-5 and their grownups, and the Lakeland Public Library has a baby storytime too for children birth to age 2! With stories, songs, rhymes, and activities, storytimes promote the development of preliteracy, verbal and listening skills, and socio-emotional skills. 

  Kelly Branch Library Storytimes (10:15 AM select Tuesdays) 
  July 2, 16

  Lakeland Public Library Preschool Storytimes (10 AM select Wednesdays) 
  July 3, 10, 17, 24

  Lakeland Public Library Baby Storytimes (11 AM select Thursdays) 
  July 11, 18, 25

  Larry Jackson Branch Library Storytimes (10 AM select Thursdays) 
  July 11, 18

  For more information, please contact the Kelly Branch Library 863.834.4286, the Lakeland Public Library 863.834.4268, or the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library 863.834.4288 

• 

  Lakeland Public Library Youth Programs

  Summer STEAM at the Lakeland Public Library 
  Join us Friday afternoons at 3:30 PM at the Main Library for summer STEAM.
  Each program will focus on a different STEAM skill.
  Recommended for kids ages 7-12.

  Beakers & Books – June 28 & July 26 
  Beakers & Books is a picture book science club where we read a story and conduct science experiments.​

  Tech-Know Time – July 12 
  Join the fun as we work with Makey Makey and littleBits to build, play, and create with circuits.

  Wonder Robotics – July 19 
  Come meet and play with Dash, a little blue robot that teaches kids how to code through games, puzzles, and building projects.

• 

  Jackson Branch Library Youth Programs

  Every Friday from 10 am-12 pm, begin your adventure at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library with crafts, games, and activities.

  June 28: Space Adventure
  July 5: Fairytale Adventure
  July 12: Ocean Adventure
  July 19: Time Travel Adventure
  July 26: Arctic Adventure

• 

  LEGO Club at Jackson Branch

  We’re kicking LEGO Club into high gear, offering it every Tuesday throughout the summer at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library. Kids and teens ages 5-17 are welcome to take our weekly build challenge and see their creations on display in the library.

  • July 2^nd 5-6:30 pm 
  • July 9^th 2:30-4 pm 
  • July 16^th 5-6:30 pm 
  • July 23^rd 2:30-4 pm