ROAR into the Summer! This year’s theme is Unearth a Story: Desentierra una Historia with dinosaurs galore! We will have Reading Challenges and events for all ages, the annual summer Art Contest for ages 5-17 and our Writing Contest for adults. There’s fun for everyone, with prizes too!
Highlights
There’s something for everyone! Explore our online calendar or download the printable calendar and sign up for the Reading Challenge!
Program Details
- Register May 11 – July 31, 2026 and get ready to read!
- Start logging your reading beginning June 1, 2026
- Earn exciting completion prizes starting July 1, 2026
- Complete all challenges by July 31, 2026 for a chance to win Grand Prizes!
Special Events
Celebrate Juneteenth With Twanda’s Theatre on Wheels
Celebrate Juneteenth with a special performance from Twanda’s Theatre on Wheels at both Ringer and Mounce! Join us as we learn about African customs and traditions. Audiences will dramatize a folktale story about a boy who plays the ukulele, a dad and his magic wand, and a hungry giant named Abiyoyo. Participants will learn how to be brave and have “courage.”
Free tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the program. Space is limited!
Location 1:
Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy. S., College Station, TX 77845
- When: Tuesday, June 16 at 10 a.m.
- Where: Meeting Room, enter from the Lobby
Location 2:
Clara B. Mounce Library, 201 E. 26th St, Bryan, TX 77803
- When: Tuesday, June 16 at 2 p.m.
- Where: Upstairs Meeting Room
Dinosaur George Traveling Museum
The 2026 Summer Reading theme, Unearth a Story, brings the past to life with dinosaurs, paleontology, archaeology and a special visit from the Dinosaur George Traveling Museum! Don’t miss this interactive, family-friendly experience where visitors of all ages can explore and learn about prehistoric creatures. The library will also have Scavenger Hunts for all ages at the exhibit.
The Dinosaur George Traveling Museum interactive experience is funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services through a grant to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (Grant # LS-259205-OLS-25)* (2026) and the Friends of the Bryan + College Station Public Library System.
- Where: Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy. S., College Station, TX 77845
- When: Monday, June 22, from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Tuesday, June 23 from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Chemistry Roadshow
Dr. Jim Pennington with Texas A&M University will entertain and educate with science experiments, *all ages welcome, loud noise/smoke will be part of the show. Limited seating is available, and free tickets can be picked up 30 minutes before each show.
Free tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the program. Space is limited! No strollers or wagons will be allowed in the meeting room.
Location 1:
Clara B. Mounce Public Library
- Where: Upstairs Meeting Room
- When: Tuesday, June 23, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. *Both shows are the same
Location 2:
Larry J. Ringer Library
- Where: Meeting Room, enter from the Lobby
- When: Thursday, June 25, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. *Both shows are the same
Mini Golf at Mounce
Join the Bryan + College Public Library System for an adventure and a “Hole” lot of family fun at a miniature golf course day. Golfers of all levels can putt throughout the library and between the stacks. Enter the raffle to win vouchers from Topgolf Bryan.
This event is free, but registration is required. Register here starting June 1.
- Where: Clara B. Mounce Public Library
- When: Sunday, July 12, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Science on Stage: Motion Commotion
What’s the commotion about motion? See Newton’s laws of motion brought to life, through interactive demonstrations. The Houston Museum of Natural Science is bringing its physics show to our libraries!
Free tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the program. Space is limited!
Location 1:
Clara B. Mounce Public Library
- When: Tuesday, July 14 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Location 2:
Larry J. Ringer Library
- When: Thursday, July 16 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History Dinosaurs
Join us for a visit from the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History team as they share about the history of dinosaurs! Follow along as they go over the different types of dinosaurs, what periods they lived in, and get to see some fossil samples up close. The team will also share about all of the fascinating exhibits they have available to view at the museum throughout the summer. We hope you’re ready to dive into some prehistoric history!
Free tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the program. Space is limited!
Location 1:
Clara B. Mounce Public Library
- Tuesday, July 21, 10 – 11 a.m.
Location 2:
Larry J. Ringer Library
- When: Thursday, July 23, 10 – 11 a.m.
Slam Crew
Do you enjoy playing or watching basketball? Curious to learn about different tricks that can be done in the game too, such as with the Harlem Globetrotters? Then come see The Slam Crew from Houston, TX put on a basketball tricks show as they share about the sport and how the moves work.
Free tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the program. Space is limited!
Learn more about the Slam Crew on YouTube..
- Where: Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy. S., College Station, TX 77845
- When: Friday, July 24, at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. *Both shows are the same
The Balloon-osaurus Show
Enjoy a high-energy balloon show packed with laughs, audience participation, and prehistoric fun!
Free tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the program. Space is limited!
Location 1:
Clara B. Mounce Public Library
- When: Saturday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m.
Location 2:
Larry J. Ringer Library
- When: Saturday, Aug. 1, 2 p.m.
Reading Challenges
Register for the Bryan + College Station Summer Reading Program. When you register online for Summer Reading, you are signing up to read for 30 total days, and you can read anything! As you “level up” through the 30 days, you’ll earn badges, bragging rights and the chance to win prizes. You will also be able to write book reviews for the books you love and want others to read.
With four program levels to choose from, everyone is invited to participate. Each reader can select the level that best fits their needs!
- Early Literacy: ages 5 and under
- Children: ages 6-12
- Teen: ages 13-17
- Adult: ages 18 and up
Once you have read for thirty days and have logged your reading, you will be awarded completion prizes (while supplies last) and will automatically be entered into Grand Prize Drawings for a chance to win great prizes! Each branch will have grand prize winner as follows:
- Early Literacy Level Prize: Dinosaur Fantastic Creatures Car Toys and a Crinkle Book
- Children Level Prize: 1 year Family Membership to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a set of walkie talkies and Anditoy Dinosaur Building Set
- Teen Level Prize: Dino Goodie Bag featuring Jurassic Park movies and more
- Adult Level Prize: Cozy Reading Basket featuring Dungeon Crawler by Matt Dinniman and more
Art Contest
The Summer Annual Art Contest this year truly embraces the theme Unearth a Story: Desentierra una Historia!
The Summer Art Contest for 2026 will have patrons voting on which artwork will be the winner for each age category. The voting will be done per library location with one winner per the following age groups:
- Ages 5-6
- Ages 7-8
- Ages 9-10
- Ages 11-13
- Ages 14-17
Contest Rules
- Artwork must be done on an 11” x 8.5” piece of paper, and must not be in a frame. Anything bigger or in a frame will not be accepted.
- Artwork will be accepted from July 1-15; artwork brought in after July 15th will not be accepted. It must also be created no earlier than June 1, 2025 and accompanied by a digital or print Copyright/Photo Release form.
- On the back of each creation the following information must be provided:
- name of artist
- age of artist
- an email or phone number of legal guardian, where staff can contact if the artwork is selected as a winner
- All artwork must be picked up from the library where it was submitted by August 28 or we will be forced to discard it.
Judging
- Artwork will be arranged by age category at both Mounce and Ringer.
- Patrons will be able to view the artwork and vote on two creations from each age category.
- Voting will take place from July 20-26.
- Age Category winners will be contacted by August 1.
Prizes
- Ages 5-6
Paint Your Own Dinosaur Lamp Kit - Ages 7-8
National Geographic Kids Stained Glass Kit - Ages 9-10
National Geographic Pull Back Dinosaur Race Cars Craft Kit - Ages 11-13
D-FantiX Dinosaur Toys Terrarium Kit - Ages 14-17
Dinosaur Sketchbook with Accessories
Grand Prize Art Contest Winner
- The Grand Prize Winner will be voted upon by library staff. All age category winners from both locations will be eligible.
- The Grand Prize Winner will be contacted by August 7.
- This winner will have their artwork featured on our 2027 Brazos Valley Children’s Literary Festival: Open a Book, Open a World t-shirt. The winner will be awarded a t-shirt and recognized at the Festival. Save the date March 20, 2027!
Writing Contest
The Summer Annual Writing Contest is for ages 18+ from June 1 – July 27. Participants must live in Brazos County to be eligible to participate.
Writing Prompt
In the depths of an uncharted jungle, an expedition comes face to face with dinosaurs that hunt with chilling intelligence. When disaster strikes, a greater danger reveals itself—and the very predators they tried to escape may be their only hope of surviving what’s coming.
Guidelines
- Prompt will be released on June 1 at 7 a.m.
- Submissions may be in first, second or third person
- 2,000 Word Limit
- Must include word count on submission
- Email submission to Ashley at areed@bryantx.gov
- Submit as a Word or PDF file by July 27.
Prizes
- 1st Place: $30 gift card to Wonderful Words Bookshoppe
- 2nd Place: $25 gift card to Wonderful Words Bookshoppe
- 3rd Place: $20 gift card to Wonderful Words Bookshoppe
