Summit County Library launches summer reading program, Unearth a Story

Summit County Library is asking readers of every age to help log 10,000 books in eight weeks, a free countywide effort aimed at slowing summer learning loss and giving families a no-cost alternative to pricey camps and activities.

The 2026 Summer Reading Program, themed Unearth a Story, runs June 8 through Aug. 8, with registration starting June 1. The library says the program has been running for more than 30 years, built around a simple idea: keep children, teens and adults reading while school is out, and help struggling readers hold onto momentum before fall.

This year’s structure is designed to be flexible. Families can use the Beanstack app or, for Pre-K and K-5 participants, a paper log newly offered in 2026. For every 100 books logged, dinosaur footprints will appear at the libraries, and the countywide goal is to reach 10,000 books by the end of the summer. A special surprise is planned for the finale party Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. in Frisco.

For children, the challenge is to read 50 days over the summer, with progress measured in pages, minutes or books. Kids earn 10 tickets for every 10 days they read, adding a clear reward structure to the daily habit of reading. The kickoff event is set for June 6 in Silverthorne and will feature a reptile show and summer swag bags, tying directly into the dinosaur-and-discovery theme.

The program extends well beyond the children’s side. Adults can take part in up to 16 activities, earn tickets for prize drawings and receive a free book for blackout completion. The prize pool includes local experiences such as Theatre SilCo and Eclipse tickets, Frisco Adventure Park tubing and Copper Summer activities, making the reading challenge feel connected to Summit County rather than detached from it.

Weekly special events are scheduled on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Library in Frisco, 2 p.m. at the North Branch in Silverthorne and 4:30 p.m. at the South Branch in Breckenridge. Early lineup items include Puppet Tales Magic and Puppet Show on June 11, Time Trackers with Breckenridge History on June 18, Katie the Caddisfly with Kathy Stout on June 25, National Repertory Orchestra for Kids on July 9, Dinosaur Yoga in bilingual format on July 16, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Magic Tree House: Jack & Annie’s Literacy Show on July 23, Friends of the Dillon Ranger District on July 30 and Lost Worlds of Colorado Curiosity Kit from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Aug. 6.

The theme itself reflects a broader library tradition. Summer reading programs began in libraries in the 1890s, and the 2026 Collaborative Summer Library Program theme, Unearth a Story, centers on dinosaurs, archaeology and paleontology. In Summit County, that long history now meets a practical need: a free, public place for families to build reading habits, find structured activities and stay connected all summer long.