Summer Reading 2025 Program Ideas

The following is a list of program ideas compiled by Beth Yates, Children’s Consultant at the Indiana State Library, as they were shared with her at summer reading trainings across the state in winter 2024-25.

 

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Resources for summer planning:

 

Program Ideas for All Ages/Any Age
  • Interactive Movies:  Interactive movies involve watching a movie and leading the audience in certain activities at certain points of the movie (Examples: During the movie Elf, everyone shouts “I know him!” when Santa appears on screen; when there is a snowball fight on screen, everyone throws paper snowballs, etc.) Make sure library has proper license to show (there are a few companies that own various movies, if your library already has a license, verify that the movie you want to show falls under that license).  List of Interactive Movie Experience Scripts compiled by Minerva Public Library, OH.  Select any movie that is about an adventure to fit the theme!
  • Canvas Backpack Decorating:  Use fabric paint and have kids, teens, or even adults decorate their own canvas backpack.  If you cannot purchase backpacks for everyone, ask attendees to bring their own to decorate.
  • DIY Diamond/Crystal Art Paintings:  Diamond painting involves applying tiny rhinestones to a patterned adhesive board to create mosaic art.  Kits can be purchased through Amazon and elsewhere online, you get the design, diamonds, and a tool to apply the jewels to the picture. Various scenes are available, and this is a super popular program at the library that shared the idea.  Best for tweens and older.
  • Cincinnati Opera House: For those in southeast Indiana, the Cincinnati Opera House may be willing to do a presentation about opera at your library.  Some will do it with a storytime, demonstrate singing, etc.
  • Breakout Room: Breakout Rooms are still very popular! Or, “break-in” to a box using a Breakout EDU box with multiple types of locks on it–they must solve mysteries to figure out the various combinations or where the keys are located. Can google for many different ideas, and Breakout EDU also has many.
  • D&D/TTRPG for Families:  Teach families to play together!  DnDBeyond.com has some useful tips for teaching kids.  Can make fantasy maps by scattering random small materials (beans, rice, etc.) on paper and outlining them to create landmasses and islands.
  • Pressed Flower Art: Ask local florist or grocery to donate flowers that are about to be thrown away; can press these on fabric and it leaves color behind.  Or, can use flowers or other natural materials (leaves, etc.) on cyanotype paper and it leaves behind the shape on the paper when exposed to sun.  Or, do a program about pressing flowers to preserve them.
  • Talent Show: This could be structured a number of different ways and depends on your available space.  Consider partnering with a local theater with a stage to lend this more gravitas and make it a community-wide contest.  Could be for one specific age group or for any age (consider separating into age-based categories).  Or, it could be a family talent contest!

 

Program Ideas for Early Childhood

 

Program Ideas for School Age Children
  • Bookmark Design Contest: Invite elementary aged kids to design a bookmark that the library will print. Consider dividing into younger (Grades K-2) and older (Grades 3-5) to make it a little more fair. Library staff can judge. Recommend the application includes a template for the dimensions of the bookmark so everyone works in same limits.

 

Program Ideas for Tweens & Teens
  • Blacklight Paint & Sip:  Buy blacklights, set up canvases and neon paints and let them paint!  Could set up a sample but even just abstract shapes look cool.
  • Mini Canvas Painting: Purchase mini canvases and teens can paint freehand/abstract or use stencils.
  • Life Hacks 101/How to Adult: Program series featuring basic cooking skills, cleaning hacks, how to sew by hand, preserve food (canning, freezing), how to change a tire/basic car maintenance, etc.
  • Theater Club: Put on a production that is created, produced, and directed by the teens for a library event.  If your area doesn’t have a community theater, this is a great opportunity for the drama/theater club to have an outlet during the summer!  Could hold production at the library if you have space, or seek out a partner with space for this.
  • Prop Building/Cosplay Costumes: Hold one or more sessions on props for cosplay. Make foam swords, armor, etc.  Lots of resources online for this.

 

Program Ideas for Adults
  • Needle Felting/Sewing/Quilting/Knitting/Embroidery/Crocheting Programs:  If you or one of your coworkers has one of these skills, or if you can find some one local who does–they often generate a lot of interest, especially if you are teaching the basics.  One librarian recommends “Hooked by Robin” YouTube channel and website for crocheting ideas.

 

The above ideas were shared by Indiana library staff at Adventure Begins at Your Library trainings across the state in the winter of 2024-25.  Some ideas were combined or amended to better fit the format.  Please note that not every idea could be included.