Alamance County libraries launch summer reading kickoff in Graham

Alamance County Public Libraries turned Graham Recreation Center into a summer reading launch site Saturday, mixing a bouncy obstacle course, face painting, balloon animals and carnival treats with a message aimed at learning as much as leisure. The free kickoff at 311 College St. also brought the Mobile Library on site to make library cards and check out books, giving families a one-stop entry point into the countywide program.

The 2026 campaign runs under the theme Unearth Your Story, and the library system is using it to push a simple idea with real academic weight: keep kids reading so the summer slide does not erase progress made during the school year. ACPL is asking children, teens and adults to log reading in Beanstack from June 8 through August 8, and the list of what counts is broad enough to fit many households, including books, audiobooks, comics and graphic novels, magazines and newspapers.

The incentives are designed to keep readers engaged beyond the first week of vacation. Children can earn free books and treasure-box rewards, while teens and adults can collect raffle tickets as they track their reading over the summer. That structure gives families a practical plan for the break, whether the goal is steady elementary reading, independent teen reading or a shared household routine built around library visits and logged titles.

The kickoff also fit ACPL’s larger outreach work. Mary Beth A., identified by the library as the community engagement librarian, has been part of a role created to improve community relationships, increase engagement and get the libraries out into the community. The Mobile Library, which travels countywide, adds another layer to that effort by offering holds, browsing, audiobooks, DVDs and take-and-make craft kits.

ACPL said Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries funding helps support its programs, including summer reading. The system has used themed summer campaigns in past years as well, with 2025’s Color Our World and 2024’s Adventure Begins at Your Library! setting the stage for this year’s push. ACPL also noted that the summer reading season coincides with the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, giving one more reason to put a book in a child’s hands and keep the county reading through August.