NOLS Summer Reading starts June 12: Free books, events and prizes for all ages
Published 1:30 am Thursday, June 11, 2026
The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) invites people of all ages to take part in its Summer Reading Program, June 12 to Aug. 22. Everyone in Clallam County is encouraged to join in the fun, track their reading and enjoy free events throughout the summer.
Sign up now for the reading challenge at any NOLS branch, on the Bookmobile, or online at NOLS.org/SRP and receive a free book to keep. Participants can read, listen to audiobooks, or be read to for 30 days to earn a T-shirt or tote bag designed by local artist Delbert Sanchez and enter the grand prize drawing. Read for 60 days to get a second entry into the drawing. Multiple winners, selected at random, can choose a $100 gift card to a local bookstore or restaurant, or a LEGO set.
Why Summer Reading Matters
Summer reading is beneficial at any age, but it’s especially important for young people. Kids who don’t read during the summer can lose up to a third of what they learned in the previous school year. The NOLS Summer Reading Program offers families a fun way to keep kids engaged, prevent the “summer slide” of learning loss and nurture a lifelong love of reading.
Free Events for All Ages
This year’s theme, “Plant a Seed, Read,” is rooted in the concept of farm-to-table. A farm grows food that nourishes our bodies; a library grows ideas that nourish our minds.
Events for kids include an action-packed comedy show with Alex Zerbe “The Zaniac,” hands-on activities at Discovery Club, Storytime and more. Tweens and teens can take part in workshops for art, writing, dance, music, or self-defense, and catch a movie or play in game tournaments. Adults can enjoy gardening socials, floral design demonstrations, and presentations about seaweeds for wellness, salmon habitat restoration, and other topics. All ages can explore tidepools with Feiro Marine Life Center, enjoy art exhibitions, and celebrate summer with jump-rope world champion Rene Bibaud. Check NOLS.org/events for the full list of free events at your local branch.
The Summer Reading Program is generously supported by local Friends of the Library groups. For more information, visit NOLS.org, call 360-417-8500, or email discover@nols.org.
