Pittsburgh, PA  –  Saturday, June 10, 2023  – 

Summer at the Library is all about encouraging reading, learning, discovery, fun and self-expression during the out-of-school months, and this year Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s goal is to increase the number of patrons who participate and get all participants to read at least five books over the summer.

The 2023 Summer Reading season runs from Sunday, June 11, to Sunday, August 6, and all CLP branches are honoring the return of Summer Reading with kickoff celebrations.

Participating kids and teens are encouraged to log their books either online or on a provided paper book log. CLP will be using the Beanstack platform for logging summer reading, which can be done online in Beanstack or in the Beanstack Tracker app. Library staff can also log patrons’ reading for them.

“Here at the library, we look forward to summer reading all year long because it’s an opportunity to connect with families and individuals of all ages through the love of reading and stories, and to instill healthy goal-setting habits that encourage everyone to continue learning and exposing themselves to new things,” said Lisa Dennis, CLP’s coordinator of children’s and teens collections. “Numerous studies show that reading over the summer prevents ‘summer learning loss.’ And youth who read 5 books over summer vacation are better prepared to start school in the fall.”

All Summer Reading participants, whether they participate by paper, by visiting a library, or online, will be considered to have “completed” Summer Reading when they have read and logged five books – although reading past the minimum goal is always encouraged!

Several prizes and giveaways will be available to readers this summer. These include:

• Giveaway books: CLP will make giveaway books available to kids and teens at each branch location (while supplies last)! Patrons don’t have to log any summer reading to pick up one of these books.
• Bags: All readers who sign up will be given a reusable CLP bag. There are three bag designs – one for kids, one for teens and one for adults. Bags are available while supplies last.
• Gift cards: Each branch will give away four gift cards each month – one for early learners, kids, teens and adults. All readers who log at least one book per month in June, July and August will be entered into the drawing for one $25 gift card.
  
• Drawing: All readers who log at least five books will be entered into the end-of-summer drawing for an age-based prize bracket. Each branch will have four prize brackets – one for early learners, kids, teens and adults.
• Experiential Prizes: The Summer Reading participants who log the most books, one from each age group – early learners, school age kids, teens and adults – will be invited to design their dream day at CLP.

This year, CLP’s Summer Reading Program is supported by sponsors and partners dedicated to championing literacy and learning for all Library patrons and communities. These include presenting sponsor EQT, program partners August Wilson African American Cultural Center and the Pittsburgh CLO, and generous corporate sponsors including Chase, Duolingo and UPMC Health Plan.

CLP will be ending the Summer Reading season with its celebratory annual Extravaganza on August 13 from 12-5 p.m. outside (and inside) of CLP – Main. Extravaganza is a family-friendly outdoor festival for all ages, and an opportunity for individuals to find their voice through summer reading and celebrate their accomplishments alongside fellow readers and community members.

“Extravaganza is always an exciting time for families, community members, library staff and educators to come together to celebrate the summer reading season and all the learning, literacy and fun that happens at the Library,” said CLP President & Director Andrew Medlar. “Unlike previous years, where Extravaganza has served as the kickoff event, we’ll be wrapping up the season with an end-of-summer Extravaganza full of activities for everyone to look forward to and enjoy after completing their summer reading.”

Patrons can look forward to music, crafts, games, activities, storytelling, food trucks and more! This year, all patrons will have an opportunity to guess the total number of books Pittsburghers read this summer, and there will be several opportunities to win prizes throughout the day with the final number revealed and a grand prize awarded at the end of the event!

###