Kent County Public Library invites the whole community to “Unearth A Story” during the 2026 summer reading experience! Running from June 1 through August 31, summer reading includes a reading challenge and many events – all of which are free!
Join the All-Ages Reading Challenge
All ages – babies, kids, teens, and adults – can join KCPL’s summer reading challenge, which provides opportunities to win prizes, explore the community, and celebrate reading by completing activities and logging reading minutes. Registration for the reading challenge opens on June 1, 2026.
Register online or in person at any KCPL location and play along to earn badges and prizes. Every time you earn a badge, you win a mystery prize and get a raffle ticket for a chance to win even larger prizes. Everyone who completes the challenge receives a medal and the top reader in each age group wins a special prize!
Attend Free Programs
Start summer reading in style with a kickoff event:
Unearth My Secret - Adults-Only Kickoff Event
What unusual, amazing, or humorous secret does your neighbor have? You might find out at this fast-paced, laugh-filled event! This very special adults-only summer reading kickoff event is just the beginning of the summer fun and we can't wait to share it with you!
Chestertown Branch | Wednesday, June 3 | 6:30pm | adults
Unearth a Story - All Ages Kickoff Events
Giant games, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and more! Sign up for the Unearth a Story Summer Reading Challenge to receive a summer reading t-shirt (while supplies last).
Chestertown Branch | Saturday, June 6 | 11am-1pm | all ages
Rock Hall Branch | Monday, June 15 | 3pm-4:30pm | all ages
North County Branch | Tuesday, June 16 | 3-4:30pm | all ages
Throughout the summer, programs will be held at all KCPL locations. This summer's lineup also includes several very special events taking place around the community in locations that include The Mainstay, the Garfield Center for the Arts, Kent County High School’s
planetarium, and Flagship Cinemas. Visit kentcountylibrary.org for full details about the summer’s programming schedule.
2026 Community Reading Goal: 500,000 Minutes
Everyone who registers for the challenge and logs reading minutes is also helping win a prize for the community! If all the “Unearth A Story” summer readers collectively read 500,000 minutes, Kent County Public Library will buy and donate new books to the library collection at Kent County Middle School. Reaching the stretch goals of 750,000 and 1,000,000 minutes read will mean even more books will be donated!
Become a Summer Reader
Starting June 1, register for the summer reading challenge at
kentcountylibrary.beanstack.org or in-person at any KCPL location.
For more details about KCPL’s 2026 “Unearth A Story” summer reading experience and to preview the entire summer calendar, visit kentcountylibrary.org, call 410.778.3636, or visit any KCPL location.
