Summer Reading Challenge 2023
The Summer Reading Challenge theme for this year is Find Your Voice!
REGISTER TODAY!
Starting this summer, registration and logging reading time will be done online through the smartphone and online app called Beanstack. Download the Beanstack app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and get registered today! Look for the Beanstack icon.
READING REWARDS
Reading opens you up to the world through books. As you discover new books and read your way through the summer you can also earn rewards at the library. Track your reading through the Beanstack app.
For every hour read participants earn a badge, raffle ticket, and a small prize. You complete the Summer Reading Challenge after reading 600 minutes, when you pick up your 600 minute badge at the library you will also get a raffle ticket, small prize, and free book. For those that want to read above and beyond, continue tracking your reading in Beanstack. Every hour read over 600 minutes earns you a raffle ticket and small prize. Super readers reaching 1200 minutes will earn a free book, small prize and special raffle entry for a drawing for a new bike donated by the Fairfield Masonic Lodge. A special prize will be awarded for the youth volunteer with the most volunteer hours as well.
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
SUMMER KICK-OFF PARTY
Friday, June 2nd from 1:00 PM-7:00 PM
Enjoy crafts, meet other groups that work with kids in the summer, jump around in the bounce house, get a balloon animal and enjoy supper at the library as we celebrate the start of the summer reading program. We will have free hot dogs, vegetarian hot dogs, fruit and chips while supplies last.
FAIR QUEEN STORYTIME
Thursday, June 8th at 4:00 PM FPL Meeting Room
Special guest Maddie Black the reigning Jefferson County Fair Queen joins us at the library for stories, songs, games and a craft.
EULENSPIEGEL PUPPETS
Friday, June 9th at 10:30 AM FPL Meeting Room
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theater of West Liberty, Iowa, returns this summer to perform an exciting story called the Emperor’s Nightingale.
"MARY POPPINS" KITE ACTIVITY AND IDC PERFORMANCE
Thursday, June 15th at 1:30 PM FPL Meeting Room and Golden Magnolia Sanctuary
Participants are invited to a kite themed storytime and kite building activity. Immediately following, participants are invited to an Iowa Dance Collective Day Camp cast performance of a shortened version of the Broadway show “Mary Poppins” at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary.
IDC DISCOVER DANCE
Friday, June 16th and July 7th at 3:00 PM Meeting Room
Iowa Dance Collective will be facilitating Discover Dance. It is an approach to early childhood dance education is the perfect blend of discovery and development that leads to an appreciation for the art of dance.
"NEWSIES" EVENT AT FPL & IDC PERFORMANCE
Thursday, June 15th at 1:30 PM Meeting Room and Golden Magnolia Sanctuary
Participants are invited to a newspaper themed even. Immediately following, participants are invited to an Iowa Dance Collective Day Camp cast performance of a shortened version of the Broadway show “Newsies” at Golden Magnolia sanctuary.
COUNTY FAIR STORYTIME
Friday, June 23rd at 10:00 AM Jefferson County Fair
Join Youth Librarian Sara Martindale at the Jefferson County Fair where she reads her favorite storytime books.
IDC TINY MUSIC
Monday, June 26th & July 24th at 10:15 AM FPL Meeting Room
The Iowa Dance Collective will be facilitating this engaging program. Tiny Music is a program built for toddlers and younger children to introduce music to their developing minds.
FIELD INVESTIGATORS AT LAMSON WOODS
Wednesday, June 28th at 10:00 AM Lamson Woods/Neff Wetlands
Join AmeriCorps Green Volunteer Maggie Voyles at Lamson Woods to explore the woods and wetlands.
BUTTERFLY TENTS
Friday, June 20th at 10:30 AM FPL Meeting Room
Learn about butterflies and experience butterflies in tents in the Absolute Science Butterfly Encounter.
BLANK PARK ZOO
Wednesday, July 5th at 10:00 AM FPL Meeting Room
Explore Earth’s amazing organisms and where humans fit in with nature. Learn to “raise a ROAR” in support of a healthy environment for all.
"LION KING" LET OUT YOUR ROAR AT FPL & IDC PERFORMANCE
Thursday, July 13th at 1:30 PM FPL Meeting Room/Golden Magnolia Sanctuary
Participants can give their best ROAR in a roaring contest followed by a lion storytime and craft. After library activities, participants are invited to an Iowa Dance Collective Day Camp cast performance of a shortened version of the Broadway show “Lion King” at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary.
JESTER PUPPETS
Friday, July 14th at 3:00 PM FPL Meeting Room
Enjoy Fractured Fairytales as told by the Jester Puppet performers.
CITIZEN SCIENCE: DISCOVER ALGAE
Monday, July 17th at 10:00 AM FPL Meeting Room
Join AmeriCorps Green Volunteer Maggie Voyles for a close look at all that is gross, green and gooey as we explore algae.
"SCHOOL OF ROCK" INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO AT FPL & IDC PERFORMANCE
Thursday, July 20th at 1:30 PM at FPL Meeting Room/Golden Magnolia Sanctuary
Experience and explore musical instruments at the library at an instrument petting zoo. After library activities, participants are invited to an Iowa Dance Collective Day Camp cast performance of a shortened version of the Broadway show “School of Rock” at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary.
JEFFERSON COUNTY CONSERVATION WITH BRITTNEY TILLER
Wednesday, July 26th and Thursday, August 3rd at 10:00 AM FPL Meeting Room
Brittany Tiller from Jefferson County Conservation shares her love of nature with program participants.
RECURRING EVENTS
Mondays at 2:30 PM in the Meeting Room
Free Kids’s Movie see event calendar for movie titles
Click here for the list of summer movies
Tuesdays at 10:15 in the Meeting Room
Songs and Stories with Sara. Youth ages 0-3, accompanied by a parent.
Wednesdays at 10:00 in the Meeting Room (unless otherwise designated)
Teens and Tween events. Youth ages 8 and up.
6/14 Pokemon Trading
6/21 Smash/Trash Journals
6/28 Field Investigators at Lamson Woods
7/5 Blank Park Zoo
7/12 Doodle it Out
7/19 Hogwarts Escape Room
7/23 Jefferson County Conservation
8/2 Fortnight at FPL
Wednesdays at 4:00 on the Square
Market Storytime at the Farmer’s Market
Thursdays at 4:00 in the Meeting Room
Storytime for youth ages 3 and up
Fridays at 3:30-4:30 in the Youth Department
LEGO Time
Fridays 6/9 & 7/14 at Chautauqua Park
Family Bike Ride
If you need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the library at 641-472-6551 Ext. 1.
The Find Your Voice Summer Reading Challenge is supported in-part by financial contributions by Dollar General, Everybody's Whole Foods, AgriPlastics, Reed Law, Neff Family Properties, The Sanctuary, JC Huffman Cabinetry, Century Insurance, Gamaranth Doyle Insurance, Libertyville Bank and Trust.