Your Summer Adventure Begins Now!
Our Summer Reading Program (SRP) combines fun activities and entertaining events to support and increase reading skills–and learning– all summer long. (Shhh–kids just think it’s fun!)
GLADL offers traditional paper and digital options to participate in SRP, plus great resources for beginning readers to adults. We have digital collections and book recommendations for all ages. We have storytimes, themed entertainers and educators, creative crafts and games – inside and outside too. And of course, we’ll have “Adventure” themed instant prizes for each completed kids reading log!
Upcoming Events
For a complete list of our Summer Programming visit our Events Calendar!
Grand Ledge Community Food Drive
July 1 – 31 | All Ages
Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation. Items of particular need are listed on our Event Calendar. Please bring all donations to GLADL. Donations will be delivered to the GL SDA Food Bank, and will be distributed thru the Food Bank and GLEAP.
Wacousta Picnic Playdate Family StoryTime
Thursday July 11, 18, 25 | 11am – 12noon | All Ages
Wacousta UMC 9180 Herbison Rd, Eagle, MI 48822
Meet at the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church’s playground and enjoy fun and stories at an outdoor family storytime filled with themed activities: music, bubbles, water play—and time for play with your Storytime friends too! Stories, songs, and literacy enhancing activities. Open to children of all ages. Families may bring chairs, a picnic lunch too. Note: Cancelled if rain or storms.
Solar System Adventure Walk!
Wednesday July 24 | 2pm – 3:30pm | Ages 7+
Take a walking adventure through the Solar System! How do we figure out relative distance and size of the planets in our solar system? How can we understand the vastness of space? We’ll use the “bowling ball” model on our stroll to find out! STEM activity, limited to first 25 families.
Pokemon Party
Thursday July 25 | 6pm – 7:30pm | Ages 5+
Celebrate all things Pokemon and become a Pokemon Master! Come make Pokemon crafts, take turns play Pokemon Snap, and do a Pokemon themed scavenger hunt. You can bring your own Switch with a Pokemon game and your own Pokemon cards to battle and trade.
Switch Gaming: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Monday July 29 | 6pm – 8pm | Ages 8+
Join us for an evening of fun and friendly Switch gaming! We’ll play Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 tonight! Who’s the best virtual athlete around? Feel free to bring your Switch to play between your turns on the big screen. All skill levels welcome!
Teen Taste Test Challenge: Pizza [Reg. Required]
Wednesday July 31 | 6pm – 7pm | Ages 13 – 18
Teens, put your taste buds to the test! We’ll have cheese pizza from several different pizza restaurants – eat your slices without knowing which is which and see if you can correctly guess what restaurant made each pizza! Also, vote on your favorite pizza to determine the most popular pizza.
5 Senses Fun
Monday August 5 | 6pm – 7:30pm | Ages 3+
Complete fun games and activities while learning about your five senses.
Great Michigan Read: FireKeeper’s Daughter Book Chat
Tuesday Aug 6 | 6pm – 7:30pm | Ages 16+
Join us for a discussion as we delve into the Great Michigan Read Book for this summer: FireKeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley. We’ll discuss plot, storyline and share ideas on our reading. Refreshments.
SRP Finale Adventure Carnival
Wednesday Aug 7 | 5:30pm – 7pm | All Ages
Enjoy a fun night of bounce houses, carnival games, and treats! Each reading log you complete earns you more carnival tickets to spend! Many non-ticketed activities for all to play too like bounce houses & the Eaton County Parks game trailer. Everyone welcome, dress to get messy!
@grandledgelibrary Adventure Begins at GLADL this Summer! Start our Summer Reading Program today, ALL ages welcome! #library #librarytiktok #librarytok #gladl #grandledge #librarycrafts #summerreading #summerreadingprogram #library #adventurebeginsatyourlibrary ♬ Summer Vibes - GRLN
Get ready for your adventure!
What can I read?
Any reading counts for any GLADL SRP Reading Log! Kids still in class? They can count their school reading time! All ages can read graphic novels, manga, favorite series, and books you have at home — whatever you choose! Read or listen to a FREE digital, or audio book from Overdrive/Libby, Hoopla, ComicsPlus, and BookFlix. Need help? have questions? Content FAQ.
What are my digital options?
You can use the app Read Squared! Players create a fun character, and “level up” to earn options for their character as they complete their reading and earn prizes!
Easily log your activity using the READsquared app. The app is free for both Android and iOS mobile devices.
Get Your Printable Reading Logs Here!
(Logs are also available inside the library)
0 - K
1st - 6th
7th - 12th
Adults
Earn Fun Prizes!
Instant Prizes – Turn in each completed Reading Log to instantly win prizes like jump ropes, tie-dye spintops, punch balls, mini dominos, themed rubber duckies, plus ice cream, pizza and other treats!
Complete all Five Logs! Choose your own book to keep from our take home shelf.
Grand Prizes – Each Reading Log completed is also an entry for a chance to win the Grand Prize for each grade group. Grand Prize packages for all ages stuffed with goodies– gift cards, tote bags, games, and much, much more!!
Visit GLADL to pick up your prizes (courtesy of our local businesses and the Friends of the Library). Bring in your paper logs to turn in—GLADL will confirm your Read Squared logs digitally.
Outdoor Fun!
Sidewalk Action Game
6/1 – 8/30
Actions posted outside, and on a Game Card in the lobby. Claim a prize at the Desk each day you play!
Picnic Playdate: A Family Storytime
Tuesdays June 4 – August 27 | 11am – 12 noon | All Ages
Meet at GLADL Tuesdays at 11 am and follow the little red wagon to the Trinity Episcopal Church playground for a summery family storytime filled with stories, songs, activities and a snack!
Wacousta Picnic Playdate Family StoryTime
Thursday July 11, 18, 25 | 11am – 12noon | All Ages
Wacousta UMC 9180 Herbison Rd, Eagle, MI 48822
Meet at the playground for stories, songs, activities, and a snack. Bug spray recommended. Cancelled if rain or storms.
Storybook Stroll – Eaton County Parks & Downtown GL
Early June – Late August
Enjoy a fun summer stroll with the family! Read “Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris” in select downtown GL windows and “Run Wild by David Covell” at Lincoln Brick Park.
Thanks to our sponsors for great Instant Win & Grand Prizes!
Meijer
A & W
Edru Skate-A-Rama
Biggby Coffee
In Good Hands Massage Therapy
Culver’s
Peppino’s Pizza
Impression 5
Sun Theatre
Comets Nutrition
Clayworks
Dart Bank
GL Rotary
Lickity Split
Pizza Hut
Quality Dairy
Texas Roadhouse
McDonald’s
Flour Child Bakery
Brad’s Hair Studio
Ledge Craft Lane
Toad’s LLC
Deadtime Stories
Tap House Boutique
Jazzercise
Friends of the Library
Walmart
Taco Bell
Zap Zone Laser Tag
Potter Park Zoo
Pam’s Pantry
The Salvage Yard Antiques
Macdowell’s Flower and Gift Shop
David J. Harkema, DMD
Hi Salon
Corner Cone
Volunteering at GLADL this Summer
The Grand Ledge Area District Library is in need of volunteers for the summer. We welcome anyone 13 or over who would like to help with programs, our carnival, or just sit at the library and prepare crafts. You can find our volunteer form on our website and once it is filled out and returned to the library, we will send you our Sign Up Genius. We have day and evening times available and you pick what you would like to help with.
To begin volunteering, please print off our Volunteer Information Form and return it to the library or email it to admin@gladl.org
For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact us at outreach@gladl.org.
Why Is Summer Reading Important?
Sure, the GLADL Summer Reading Program is lots of fun—but it’s more than fun. Reading over the summer helps your imagination take flight, and is incredibly important for students and their academic achievement, from preschool to grade three and beyond:
- Children who don’t read over the summer experience summer learning loss, forgetting some of what they’ve learned during the school year. Worse, the effect is cumulative– children who lose reading skills over the summer may be up to two years behind their classmates by the end of 6th grade. Children actively participating in a library Summer Reading Program gain reading skills and increase literacy.
- The Summer Reading Program encourages kids to read whatever they want, to enjoy reading for recreation. Studies show children who read for fun often academically out-perform children who don’t.
- When families engage in summer reading together, they have meaningful conversations, share adventures and experiences while also making an impact on their child’s learning.
- The Summer Reading Program and all of its associated activities are FREE– safe, engaging, educational opportunities for all ages, all summer long!
For more about the importance of summer reading for our children, follow the link to an article from School Library Journal. For an impassioned statement about libraries, reading and daydreaming for adults by Neil Gaiman, read this article from The Guardian. Thanks to the Madison Public Library and ed.gov for contributed material.