The school year is coming to a close, but Muhlenberg County Public Libraries is ready to keep the learning — and fun — going with the annual Summer Reading Program.
The library’s Summer Reading Program is an annual series of reading challenges and entertaining activities. This year’s program theme is “Unearth a Story,” featuring activities involving dinosaurs, paleontology, archaeology and more.
Summer Reading officially begins June 1, with registration beginning May 18.
A special kick-off event, the Ultimate Dinosaur Encounter presented by FelleREXpress, is also scheduled for May 28 at Felix E. Martin Jr. Hall at 6 p.m. Information about Summer Reading will be available at this activity, which serves not only as evening entertainment but also as an introduction to the 2026 Summer Reading Program. Dinosaur enthusiasts (and readers) of all ages won’t want to miss this fun, interactive performance!
All ages are encouraged to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Starting June 1, the library will have weekly events for children (approximately 18 months and up) and teens, plus additional one-time activities for all age groups. There are also challenges designed to encourage Muhlenberg County residents of all age groups to pick up their preferred reading material and keep their minds active through the summer months.
Readers can sign up to participate in the Summer Reading challenges at any point before the end of the program, but registration opens on May 18 for all ages. Registration is available in person at either library as well as online; scan the QR code above or click on any kids’ or teen Summer Reading event at the library’s event calendar for a registration link. (The same registration link is included on all Summer Reading event listings on the calendar, but you will only need to register once in order to participate in all challenges and events.)
All ages, 18 months through adult, can register using this form.
Links to the registration form and online reading logs will also be posted at the top of this page once sign-ups begin on May 18.
Children should be registered for their appropriate age group based on the most recent grade completed. However, it is acceptable to move a child up or down one age group if a caregiver feels the child would be more comfortable or needs to accommodate multiple children of different ages.
Participation packets, including additional information, paper reading logs and announcements about extra activities, will also be available at both libraries.
Summer Reading participants can begin tracking their reading as soon as they have registered.
A full schedule of events is available on the library’s event calendar, but weekly Summer Reading activities will take place at the following days and times:
- Storytime (18 mo.-5 yrs.) – 10 a.m. on Tuesdays (Greenville) and 1 p.m. on Thursdays (Central City)
- K-2nd grade – 1 p.m. on Tuesdays (Greenville), 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays (Greenville) and 10 a.m. on Wednesdays (Central City)
- 3rd-5th grade – 10 a.m. on Mondays (Greenville) and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays (Central City)
- Teens – 1 p.m. on Mondays (Greenville) and 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays (Central City)
Due to particularly high attendance last year, the library added an extra weekly session for the K-2nd grade age group at Greenville. Both of these sessions will include the same activities each week. Parents or caregivers of children in this age group can select their preferred session at registration as long as space is available, but seats will be available on a first come, first served basis. Everyone is encouraged to register as soon as possible to make sure their child can be enrolled for their preferred session.
The library is also offering two sensory-sensitive programs for children in the storytime and K-2nd grade age groups with particular attention paid to reducing overwhelming sensory stimuli. These sessions will take place on June 12 and 26 at 1 p.m. at Harbin Memorial Library in Greenville.
All activities are optional, but Summer Reading participants are encouraged to attend as many of their sessions as possible to get the most of the program.
Other unique activities scheduled for the summer, in addition to the above Summer Reading Program events and regular library activities, include an outdoor movie on June 5 at Lu-Ray Park in Central City; kids’ yoga on Mondays (June 1-22) at Harbin Memorial Public Library; weekly movie matinees on Wednesdays (June 10-24) at Central City Public Library; an archaeology discussion led by historian Dr. Garry Hill on June 13 at the Central City Public Library; Dino Trivia Night at Harbin Memorial Public Library on June 25 for teens and adults; the always-popular live animal encounter, Animal Tales, on June 29 at Central City Public Library; and a performance by magician Terry Hedges on July 9 at Central City Public Library.
Some library activities, including Dr. Hill’s archaeology discussion and Dino Trivia Night, require registration separate from the Summer Reading Program registration! Please check event listings closely. You can click on the name of any activity on the event calendar for more information.
Summer Reading participants are also treated to a special finale party at the end of the program. Eligibility is limited to those who are active participants in the program; more information will be provided in the participation packets available at registration.
All above listed events and activities are provided free of charge.
Summer Reading is an attempt by public libraries throughout the nation to prevent students – and adults – from forgetting or losing what they’ve learned over the rest of the year, even when school isn’t in session and many people traditionally take a break from their usual busy schedules. “The ‘summer slide’ is a very real phenomenon,” library director Janet Harris said. “If we don’t try to keep learning, we can move backwards and forget some of the things we already learned.” She said Summer Reading is a way that learners of all ages can continue to keep their minds engaged and active during a time period that is traditionally a little slower, as far as educational pursuits are concerned.
“We aren’t saying you shouldn’t enjoy your time,” Harris added. “Of course we want everyone to take a break every now and then from the difficulties and stresses of work and school.
“But you don’t want to completely stop learning for the whole summer … that can be really harmful in the long run.”
That’s where Summer Reading comes in, Harris said. The library strives to make its activities and challenges entertaining so participants have a good time but still give their brains a little exercise. “We have fun!” she said. “Yes, the idea is to provide an opportunity for learning, but we learn from playing or participating in hobbies, too.
“Learning shouldn’t be boring – it doesn’t have to be something you dread.”
The term “summer slide” is usually associated with school-age students, especially younger children, but a similar effect can happen to all ages — even adults. Harris said, “Even as adults, it’s so important to keep using our knowledge if we want to retain it. ‘Use it or lose it’ is especially true in this case — if we don’t keep using what we’ve learned, we tend to forget it.”
For that reason, Harris said, the library provides summer programming for all ages, from children who aren’t yet in school through adult. “Summer Reading is for everyone,” she said. “A lot of people think it’s just a children’s thing, but that’s not true.
“We want all ages to join us!”
Harris also noted that, in addition to having events for all ages, staff try to plan different types of activities so there is something for everyone.
Harris also said that even those who cannot attend programs are still welcome to participate in the Summer Reading Program’s reading challenges. Participants track their progress with reading logs and are rewarded with various incentives for active participation in the program.
Any kind of reading applies as participation in the challenges, Harris added. “We don’t care what you read,” she said, “we just want to encourage everyone to keep learning, and it doesn’t matter what genre or format you prefer, it all can help keep your mind active.”
For more information about Muhlenberg County Public Libraries’ 2026 Summer Reading Program, please feel free to call the library at 270-338-4760 or contact us via our online form.
