Welcome to Summer at Your Library
School is out and Orange County Library System is ready to help you make this your best summer ever with Summer at Your Library, June 1 to July 26. Stop into any OCLS location and pick up your free reading challenge booklet. These booklets are full of games, reading tips, fun facts and an easy way to keep track of your summer reading. Kids ages 0 to 18 can also choose a free book to keep, thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of the Orange County Library System, while supplies last.
Our summer reading challenge is designed to support lifelong learning and curiosity by focusing on building a daily reading habit. Kids can track their reading over 30 days to complete the challenge and enter our prize drawing. Visit ocls.org/summer for all the details.
For our youngest children, focusing on the five early literacy skills (reading, writing, talking, singing and playing) helps them develop language, comprehension and a love of learning. For school-aged kids, reading a little every day boosts language and communication skills, improves focus, and increases social awareness and empathy. In adults, reading helps maintain cognitive health, reduces stress, can strengthen memory and supports general emotional well-being.
• Reading a little a day goes a long way. Reading every day builds stronger minds at any age.
• Reading is a socially taught and reinforced skill. Children who see adults enjoying reading are more likely to become readers.
• Reading is reading! Audiobooks, magazines, graphic novels, newspapers, blogs and more all count as reading.
We are also pleased to welcome back the OCPS Mobile Lunch Vehicles for the Summer Lunch program. Children and young adults ages 18 and younger may receive a free, nutritious lunch Monday through Friday, June 1 to July 24, at six OCLS locations.
No matter your age, your library offers unmatched value all summer long. Whether you are looking for excitement and discovery or rest, relaxation and reading, your local library is your cool summer space with endless fun and learning, online and in-person.
