May 23 – September 8, 2026
Those interested should complete the short registration form HERE. Once registered, readers can drop in at their library to pick up the Adult Summer Reads 2026 passport.
The PASSPORT is filled with inspiring reading ideas and activities to motivate your participation throughout the summer. Each activity completed earns you a ticket to an end-of-summer drawing!
The three libraries will offer fun prizes to their participants. Plus, two grand prize winners (and a guest) from each library will be invited to an end-of-summer dinner at the historic Ernest and Mary Hemingway House. Prize winners will be drawn randomly at each library on Tuesday, September 8, at 2:00 p.m. and winners will be notified by telephone.
The year’s Adult Summer Reads theme is UNEARTH A STORY, which aims to expand and inspire your knowledge of the extraordinary and diverse world in which we live through a prehistoric lens. From paleontology to archaeology, we will explore reads that relate to these natural sciences and delve into related stories and activities to rock your world.
“We often see an uptick in library checkouts during the summer,” says Pam Parker, a librarian at The Community Library. “People are looking for a balance to outdoor activities. It seems to me that our minds get thirsty after a long hike or bike ride!”
Within your passport, you will be offered a few Wild Cards to give your room to roam your own reading interests. Also included will be some audio-video options and local in-person events to help you expand your learning about our region’s prehistory beyond the written word.
The Adult Summer Reads is meant to be a engaging and fun way for Valley residents to connect with their library throughout the summer.
“Library staff look forward to hearing about the gritty stories and experiences that you are unearthing over the summer,” according to Pam Parker at The Community Library. “It’s great to see someone come to get their Passport stamped and share about the book they’ve just loved.”
Keep in mind that library staff are happy to guide your reading selections. Just ask! You can also check our Adult Summer Reads 2026 book recommendations book recommendations here for reading ideas that will help you “Unearth a Story.”
Participants must be 18+ to join the Adult Summer Reads program. Preschoolers and kinders, Children, and Teens should register in their respective programs linked below.
Preschool/Kindergarten Summer Reading
Kids Summer Reading (Grades 1-6)
Teen Summer Reading (Grades 7-12)
