The most exciting time of the year is among us! Our Summer Reading Program, All Together Now, begins on June 1st. All Together Now is an all-ages summer reading experience! Register on June 1st by using our Beanstack website, bplwv.beanstack.org, or use the Beanstack Tracker mobile app available through the app store. On June 1st participants may also pick up a participation tote bag from the library. If you need help getting registered on Beanstack, please give us a call. Each badge you collect during the Summer Reading Program earns tickets you can put towards a variety of great prizes. Badges can be earned by reading and logging books, attending library programs, and participating in the Community Scavenger Hunt.

 

The Community Scavenger Hunt is one of the biggest highlights of this year’s Summer Reading Program. Visit various businesses around Bridgeport and look for a gear. On each gear is a code you can enter into Beanstack to earn the badge for visiting that business. This is the list of participating businesses: Almost Heaven Desserts & Coffee Shop, Artworks on Main Street, Benedum Civic Center, Bonnie Belle's Bakery, Cinemark, Della's Deli, DeNuzzo's, Eastern Pet Supply, G.O.A.L. (Gaming on All Levels), Great Harvest Bakery, Market on Main, Planet X, Stone Tower Brews, Stonewall Coffee, Subway (Johnson Ave.), Sunmoon Apparel, and Winnie's.

 

Another highlight is our Tiny Art Show. In your participation tote bag, you will find a 4x4 canvas. We will be displaying art created by our community on these canvases from July-August. To participate, paint, draw, embroider, sculpt, or anything else on your canvas, and then turn it in to one of the desks at the library. All family-friendly art will be displayed in the front lobby until the end of August, when you can come back and collect your art. This is not a competition, but you will receive a code you can use in Beanstack to earn tickets for our prizes. 

 

Roots & Readers is one of the special programs we will be offering during our Summer Reading Program. June 1st is the planting day for the Bridgeport Public Library Community Garden. Join us every Thursday from 11:00-12:00 PM for Roots & Readers, an all-ages gardening experience. Participants will get to take home what is grown in the garden during harvest time. 

 

Know Your City is another special Summer Reading Program series, but this one is limited to children, teens, and their families. Does your child have dreams of one day becoming a firefighter, police officer, or engineer? Bring your children to the library to meet people from the many different departments of Bridgeport. Meet staff from the Police Department, Emergency Services, Fire Department, and more! Join us every Thursday at 3:00 PM from June 1st-July 27th. 

 

Join us on Saturday, July 29th at Deegan and Hinkle Lakes Park from 4:00-5:30 PM for a Library Field Day to celebrate the finale of Summer Reading! This is an all-ages event. Refreshments will be available as well as several carnival-style games. On July 31st, we will hold the drawing for prizes. We took your feedback from last year’s summer reading program to heart! This year, most of our prizes are sourced from local businesses. We hope there is a little something for everyone. Check out just a small selection of prizes available: Local Décor Pack from Market on Main includes a Bridgeport throw pillow, West Virginia cutting board, and a Support Local Farmers tote bag, Dungeons & Dragons Kit from G.O.A.L. includes the 5th edition Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, and a set of 7 Chessex dice, Coffee Lovers Bundle includes a French Press Coffee Maker and a $10 gift card to Almost Heaven Desserts & Coffee Shop, Pokémon Pack from Insight Astronomy includes 2 tins of booster packs for the Pokémon TCG, a Cricut® Explore 3 Cutting Machine, and more! You don’t want to miss this year’s Summer Reading Program!