Lawrence Public Library launches summer reading with soccer and dinosaurs
Lawrence Public Library kicked off Read, Score, Roar with Dinosoccer, aiming for 3 million minutes read and giving families a summer fix for learning loss.
Soccer, dinosaurs and books were the entry point, but the goal was academic: Lawrence Public Library opened its 2026 summer reading campaign as a way to keep Douglas County children reading while school is out. The program, branded Read, Score, Roar, ran from May 21 through Aug. 15 and was built as an all-ages challenge with book lists, activities and themed programming meant to curb “summer slide,” the learning loss that can happen when the school year ends.
The launch was a public celebration rather than a quiet sign-up drive. The kickoff event, Summer Reading Kickoff Party: Dinosoccer, took place Thursday, May 21, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawrence Public Library, pairing the library’s reading push with a soccer-and-dinosaur theme designed to make books feel like part of the city’s summer calendar. The library said the 2026 theme was inspired by the World Cup and dinosaurs, a combination that ties a global sporting event to a playful local reading campaign.
The scale of the program shows why the library treats it as more than seasonal entertainment. Last year’s challenge participants read 2,640,805 minutes, and Lawrence Public Library is aiming to top 3 million minutes in 2026. That target gives parents, caregivers and older students a concrete benchmark to watch through the summer, as routines loosen and school-year structure disappears. The library has framed the effort as a way to keep readers of every age connected, from babies and children to teens and adults.
For younger children, the summer clubs are folding the theme into weekly activities. The library said Imaginarium, for ages 8 to 11, and Wednesday Wonders, for ages 5 to 7, will include dinosaur bones, science experiments, soccer, and snacks and crafts from around the world. A separate World Cup Warm Up series is also tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is meant to help residents learn about the cultures and people represented in the tournament.
The campaign also rests on community support. Lawrence Public Library said summer reading prizes are backed by local businesses, organizations and the Lawrence Public Library Friends & Foundation, extending the effort beyond the building on 7th Street and into the broader civic life of Lawrence. For families looking for structure before summer routines settle in, the library’s message was clear: reading can be part of the season, not something set aside until school starts again.
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