- Collect ‘seeds’ for reading to earn PRIZES!
- Story City storytime series at fire stations and community gardens, and special hands-on experiences with Butterflies, Plants, Food, and Music for children
- Seed Bombs, Magic Tree Henna, PRIDE Friendship Bracelets, Birdfeeders, Food Explorers, and more just for Teens
- Book Clubs, DIY and wellness crafts, ‘Celebrate MA250’ history programs, and ‘One Read, One Springfield’ community reading for Adults
- Plus, live Music Performances, Musical Petting Zoos, and Music Workshops for all ages
- End of Summer Celebration on Saturday, August 8
How to participate:
★ Sign up for Summer Reading and read as much as you can this summer!
Join the Children’s or Adult Summer Reading Challenge. Teens may choose to participate in the Children’s or Adult challenge! To participate:
- Download the Beanstack app or use the Library’s Beanstack desktop website, OR pick up a Paper Log at any Springfield City Library Branch or print one online.
- Earn a seed for every minute you read this summer and grow your reading garden to earn prizes!
- Record your reading time along the garden path to help your seeds bloom into flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
Log Your Reading with Beanstack!
With Beanstack, you can track your reading minutes, write book reviews, and participate in fun activities! Plus, earn special badges to celebrate your reading achievements. Participate on the Library’s Beanstack site or download the Beanstack app. If you need help, watch the Beanstack tutorial or ask a librarian!
Log Your Reading with a Paper Log!
Select a button below to download a paper reading log to print.
Books • Magazines • Graphic Novels, Comics & Manga • Audiobooks • E-books • Online Articles • Gaming Manuals • Cereal Boxes • Street Signs • Subtitles • As a Family • Listening During Storytimes • To Pets and Toys • And more!
★ Visit your local library Branch to claim a prize for each item that you grow in your reading garden!
- Sign-up prizes*: Spin-to-win prizes for children, Choice of plant growing kits for adults, and Free Choice for teens!
- Prize Baskets for Youth: Grow items in your reading garden to earn raffle tickets for a chance to win one of nine, specially-themed prize baskets. The more you read, the better your chance of winning!
- Early Literacy! (Babies)
- Animals! (Babies/Early Elementary)
- Gardening! (Early Elementary)
- Back to School! (Elementary)
- Movie Night! (Elementary/Tween)
- Boredom Buster! (Elementary/Tween)
- Summer Fun! (Elementary/Tween/Teen)
- Sports! (Tween/Teen)
- Crafting! (Tween/Teen)
- Completion Prizes*: Special age-appropriate toys for young readers and choice of surprise gifts for adults to enhance your seasonal experience!
- “Visit to Win” Raffle: Library visitors of all ages can earn one raffle ticket per person, per day when you visit a Springfield City Library location or attend a library program during the summer. Enter to win the raffle of your choice, which feature prizes and gift cards from local businesses:
- Big Y Supermarket $25 Gift Certificate
- Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Family Pass
- Food Zone International Supermarket $25 Gift Certificate
- Friendly’s Ice Cream & Restaurant $25 Gift Certificate
- Holyoke Children’s Museum Youth Tickets
- InterSkate 91 4-Pack Tickets
- Nathan Bill’s Restaurant $25 Gift Certificate
- Rocky’s Hardware $25 Gift Certificate
- Sixteen Acres Garden Center $25 Gift Certificate
- U.S.S. Constitution Museum Group Admission Tickets
- White Lion Brewing Company $25 Gift Certificate
- Yankee Candle Free Wax Works Coupon
*While supplies last.
★ Don’t miss these special programs and activities!
- Enjoy free, fun activities for all ages, all summer long:
- Visit your nearest library location any day to get a take-and-make activity, do a drop-in craft, or participate in a scavenger hunt!
★ Join us at our End of Summer Celebration!
Saturday, August 8, 2026 – 11:00am–2:00pm at Greenleaf Park
Let’s celebrate a summer of growing a community of readers in Springfield! Meet at us Greenleaf Park for our End of Summer Celebration, featuring lawn games, crafts, food, and community connection for ALL AGES. Don’t miss this fun, free event to close out the summer!
The celebration will take place at Greenleaf Park in Sixteen Acres, Springfield. Free, accessible parking is available at Greenleaf Community Center and the Sixteen Acres Branch Library. Greenleaf Park is also accessible via PVTA Bus Routes B17 & X94.
Thank you to this year’s sponsors!
The Springfield City Library Summer Reading Challenge is supported by your local library, the Springfield Library Foundation and the Springfield Library Foundation’s Rose M. Smith Music Fund, the Friends of the Springfield Library, PeoplesBank, and the Massachusetts Library System.
El Desafío de lectura de verano de la biblioteca de la ciudad de Springfield cuenta con el apoyo de su biblioteca local, la Fundación de la biblioteca de Springfield y el Fondo de música Rose M. Smith de la Fundación de la biblioteca de Springfield, los Amigos de la biblioteca de Springfield, PeoplesBank y el Sistema de bibliotecas de Massachusetts.