Val Verde County Library launches summer reading program, kids free play event

The Val Verde County Library is giving Del Rio families a built-in summer stop, with its 2026 Summer Reading Program running from June 8 through July 31 and a Kids Free Play session set up for young children at the library on 300 Spring Street. For parents trying to fill the long stretch between school days and the start of fall routines, the calendar points to a local option that combines reading, play and a place to cool down.

Kids Free Play was scheduled for Friday, June 12, at 10:30 a.m. and was described as an hour-long session for infants through kindergarten-aged children. The event used activity stations for group sensory play in the Story Time room, giving the library’s youngest visitors a structured setting that went beyond simple drop-in time. The summer reading schedule itself runs through July 31 and is open as part of the county library’s broader programming for children, young adults and adults.

That broader mission matters in a county where summer can stretch family schedules and budgets. The library says its programs are designed to provide learning, entertainment and community engagement opportunities, which makes the summer reading effort more than a calendar filler. For children, it offers a reason to keep turning pages while school is out. For caregivers, it creates a predictable place to bring kids for an indoor activity during the hottest months.

Support for that work also comes from the Friends of the Val Verde County Library, a nonprofit that backs library programs not covered by the county budget, including the annual Summer Reading Program and other programming throughout the year. The Friends held a book sale on April 25, with proceeds going back into library programming, underscoring that the summer schedule is part of a larger community-supported effort in Del Rio.