Holmes County library summer reading kickoff set for May 29

Families looking for a low-cost way to keep reading habits alive this summer can start at the Holmes County District Public Library’s kickoff on Friday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Central Library, 3102 Glen Drive in Millersburg. The library says registration is already open at either the Central Library or the East Branch in Walnut Creek.

The 2026 Summer Reading Program is set to run from June 1 through July 25 on the library homepage and kickoff page, while the program page still lists a July 19 end date. The program is open to kids, teens and adults, and participants can track their reading progress for a chance to earn prizes. For parents planning around summer break, that makes the library one of the county’s easiest education options: no admission fee is listed, and the structure gives children a reason to keep reading after school lets out.

The kickoff itself is designed to be a practical stop, not just a ceremonial one. Along with registration, the Central Library will offer kickoff activities during the May 29 event. The East Branch, 4877 Olde Pump Street in Walnut Creek, gives families on the other side of the county a closer place to sign up and stay connected to the program.

That access matters in Holmes County, where the library says its two bookmobiles serve residents who do not have access to a library facility. The current bookmobile schedule runs through May 29, the same day as the kickoff, and that mobile service extends the library’s reach well beyond its brick-and-mortar branches in Millersburg and Walnut Creek.

The summer reading effort is part of a larger library system led by Director Paula Cicconetti, Head of Children’s Services Michele Skolmutch and Bookmobile Manager Phil Yoder. The Holmes County District Public Library Board of Trustees includes Laura Barr, Jordan Stutzman, Merry Lynn Sigrist-Straits, Tara Dalrymple, Kisha Stutzman, Courtney Sigler and Megan Wilson, all serving four-year volunteer terms.

Beyond summer programming, the library also houses a genealogy and local history room with Holmes County newspaper microfilm dating back to the 1840s. That mix of children’s programming, local history, bookmobiles and branch service makes the library a year-round public resource, with summer reading positioned as one of its most visible entry points for families across Holmes County.