The Fun Is Just Starting
Join us as we “Color Our World” this summer! It’s not too late to dive into the excitement; the fun is just beginning! Don’t miss out as we embark on a journey of art and imagination! Visit your library for exciting interactive programs featuring captivating acts like Didgeridoo Down Under and Goat In The Road Productions. There’s something unique and interesting for patrons of all ages! Unleash your creativity by crafting whimsical landscapes and other arts and crafts projects, join the discussions in book clubs and author talks, participate in fun-filled couples’ game nights, be enlightened with STEM activities, and get energized with our fitness classes. You can even learn a new language, such as Creole, French, or Spanish. The library has so much to offer. Why not visit and explore everything we offer?
While you’re here, discover how to join this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Use the Beanstack app, visit stjohnlib.beanstack.org, or pick up a paper reading log at the library. Colorful incentives await patrons of all ages who sign up for the program! Complete the challenge by reading 360 minutes (that’s just 6 hours) and earn additional badges and rewards along the way!
Whether you’re here for amusement, captivating activities, or our colorful characters, we promise there’s something for everyone! Don’t miss your chance—come and color your world with us!
Overview
Fun and creativity can be found at your Library with six themed weeks of free, interactive activities to combat the summer slide of learning loss. St. John the Baptist Parish Library’s annual Summer Reading Program will take place June 2nd – July 12th, offering creative ways for children and adults to explore all the library offers.
Libraries across the nation have traditionally hosted Summer Reading Programs to foster a love of reading among community members of all ages. As libraries have evolved over time into community hubs, Summer Reading has expanded beyond books. This year’s theme, “Color Our World,” invites you to experience books and activities themed around Animation (June 2-7); Animals (June 9-14); Celebrations (June 16-21); Arts & Crafts (June 23-28); STEM (June 30 -July 3); and Color (July 7-12).
Sign-up incentives will be given to all participants with an opportunity to earn larger prizes by reaching reading goals and earning badges along the way.
Learn how to draw with Young Rembrandts, be entertained by your favorite characters from your local theatres, sip lemonade with your favorite princesses, and enjoy an animal extravaganza complete with reptile encounters. The fun continues with live performances with Didgeridoo and Goat In The Road Productions, date nights with that special someone, learning new languages, backyard fishing, MakerSpace training, and STEM activities. Be surprised each week by all our community has to offer with the River Parishes Tourist Commission – play retro trivia games, colorize black and white photographs, learn about the founding of the River Parishes, the legacy of perique tobacco, and the live theatre in our backyard! Then let your creativity shine in world-building, sewing, and other colorful arts and crafts projects. Don’t forget to join us for Storytime and sensory play, Disney musical bingo, author talks, book clubs, and fitness classes, to name a few!
Register by using the Beanstack app on your phone or visiting the website stjohnlib.beanstack.org, beginning June 1st.
All program times will be listed on our online calendar, in our Bookmark newsletter, and on social media.
How It Works:
- Sign Up for the Summer Reading Program: Create a Beanstack account using the link below to start your reading challenge! The mobile app is available for iOS or Android. If you prefer to log your reading on paper, sign up at any library branch.
- Read whatever you like: Any type of reading counts, whether it’s a novel, audiobook, online article, or graphic novel! Complete the program by logging 360 reading minutes, collect your incentives, and be entered into a grand prize drawing.
- Earn Prizes & Have Fun: After you reach your reading goal, collect badges to earn extra drawing entries and incentives by visiting the library, participating in engaging programs for all ages, submitting book reviews, and exploring the library’s free online resources.
Attend the Closing Event
Saturday, July 12, 2025 | 5:00 PM
Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library
1482 Hwy 44, Reserve, LA
Why Participate in Summer Reading?
The Summer Reading Program is a great way for kids, teens, adults, and families to bond and develop a love of reading and learning. By participating in the program, you:
- Are motivated to read.
- Develop positive attitudes about reading, books, and the library.
- Maintain or improve reading skills during summer vacation.
- Have access to fun learning experiences.
- Can make new friends.
- Learn about programs and resources the library offers.
Find Books and More
- Visit our catalog to find materials inside the library.
- BookFlix® combines Weston Woods animated stories with best-selling Scholastic nonfiction ebooks to create an engaging, interactive reading experience. It enhances vocabulary, fluency, and early literacy while building real-world knowledge for beginning and developing readers. (Ages 3-8) Use your library card to access.
- hoopla – Hoopla allows adults to instantly borrow e-books, comics, audiobooks, music, movies and television with no holds, and no waiting. And there’s no need to worry about late fees; hoopla features an automated service that returns your item once your time is up. Content can be streamed to computers, tablets or smartphones, and can be downloaded to mobile devices to allow for offline viewing any time. You can check out up to 6 items from hoopla each month.
- Overdrive/ Libby – OverDrive is a collection of e-books, digital audiobooks, and interactive digital magazines offered by the library. E-books and audiobooks can be downloaded to your computer, tablet, (including Kindle), or mobile device. OverDrive e-book titles can be read online using OverDrive and audiobooks can be listened to online using OverDrive Listen. Streaming video is also available! Mobile and tablet customers, download the Libby app for iOS and Android.
- Odilo – Odilo offers an extensive catalog of over 800,000 e-books and 73,000 audiobooks in Spanish.
- America’s News Bank, New Orleans Advocate Collection, Times Picayune Collection – News Bank provides access to information on people, issues, and events in local areas and all around the country. This comprehensive resource offers hundreds of millions of current and archived full-text articles from news sources nationwide in a single, fully searchable online database. It includes the electronic editions of more than 3,000 U.S. news sources, with more than 79% of these sources not available in any other library database.
- Newspapers – Links to free newspaper sites in Louisiana and in other states.
- New York Times Online – Patrons can now enjoy New York Times | All Access. Your access includes everything The New York Times offers:
- News: Understand the world with original reporting from 1,700 journalists
- Games: Spelling Bee, Wordle, The Crossword and more.
- Cooking: Recipes, advice and inspiration for any occasion.
- Wirecutter: Independent reviews for thousands of products
- The Athletic: In-depth, personalized sports journalism.
For a full list of all Summer Reading Programs, please refer to our online calendar.
Download the Beanstack app
Link to download Beanstack on Apple devices
Link to download Beanstack on Android phones