Are you ready for an adventure! The Bryan + College Station Public Library System’s 2024 Summer Reading Program is almost here!
This year’s theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library – La Aventura Comienza en Tu Biblioteca.” We are excited that you are joining us online for a summer full of programs from June 1 – July 31.
How do you sign up? Easy, just use Beanstack, our online reading logging platform. You can find us online, in the App Store, or on Google Play.
Reading levels
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 earn prizes. You will also be able to write book reviews for the books you love and want others to read.
We have four program levels, and every reader will choose the level that best applies to them:
- Early Literacy: ages 5 and under
- Children: ages 6-12
- Teen: ages 13-17
- Adult: ages 18 and up
Once you have read for 30 days, and have logged your reading, you will be awarded completion prizes (while supplies last) and will be automatically entered into Grand Prize Drawings for a chance to win great prizes! Each branch will have a Grand Prize winner.
Early Literacy
- Grand Prize Winner No. 1: $50 Gift Card sponsored by Metronet
- Grand Prize Winner No. 2: Pop-Up Play Adventure Set; includes a pop-up tent, camping shape sorter, pop-up toy lantern and a pop-up Peekaboo! Forest book
Children
- Grand Prize Winner No. 1: $50 Gift Card sponsored by Metronet
- Grand Prize Winner No. 2: $50 Gift Card for Urban Air
Teen
- Grand Prize Winner No. 1: $50 Gift Card sponsored by Metronet
- Grand Prize Winner No. 2: Four pack of tickets to Padlock Escape Games *Groups of individuals under the age of 16 must have an adult participant present. Sponsored by Padlock Escape Games
Adult
- Grand Prize Winner No. 1: $50 Gift Card sponsored by Metronet
- Grand Prize Winner No. 2: An autographed copy of The Book of Ile-Rien by Martha Wells and a $70 gift card to Star Cinema
Art contest
You are formally invited to join us for the Summer Reading Program Art Contest: “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”
Contest guidelines
- The contest is open to ages 5-17 in the following five categories:
- Ages 5-6
- Ages 7-8
- Ages 9-10
- Ages 11-13
- Ages 14-17
- Artwork must be created no earlier than June 1, 2024 (new work of art) and received between July 1 – 15, accompanied by a digital or print “copyright release form for original work”
- Art must be no larger than 9×12 inches on paper in the following medium: chalk, paint, pencils, markers, crayons
- Any type of paper will be accepted; such as canvas or mixed media; no sculpture or frame art accepted
- Must adhere to the theme of “adventure”
- Include contact information (name of artist, age, parent name (if minor), phone number, email & branch on the back side of art paper
- Entries must not have been submitted for previous contest and only one art entry per person
- Submissions must be turned in by July 15 at 8 p.m., at the latest. No entry accepted after that
- All artwork must be picked up by Aug. 31. If artwork is not picked up by that date, it becomes the property of the Library
- By entering the contest, entrants consent to the use of the publication of their name, artwork image, and statement in connection with the contest or any subsequent similar contest held by BCS Public Library System, without payment or compensation other than the chance to win the prize awarded
- Entries will be posted during the month of August at the branch location designated on back of artwork
Judges
A panel of judges from The Arts Council of the Brazos Valley will decide the winners for each category.
Prizes
One prize will be awarded per each age category: $30 gift certificate to Michael’s.
Grand Prize
One of the winning artworks will be transcribed on our 2025 Brazos Valley Children’s Literary Festival: Open a Book, Open a World t-shirt. Save the date Saturday, April 5, 2025! Grand prize will be determined by library staff voting among the age contestant winners.
Award presentation
Prizes for each age category will be awarded the week of July 22 and winners will be contacted. The Grand Prize award will be announced by August 15.
Writing Contest
It’s back! The 2024 Summer Reading Program Writing Contest! This program for adults is a great way to embrace your creativity and let the world see the author within you.
The works can be no longer than 2000 words, must be completed between June 1 and July 31, and must follow the writing prompt.
Writing prompt: Your story must start with this sentence, “As they stepped onto the train, I fought every urge to jump on after them.” OR “As they stepped onto the train, he/she/it/proper name fought every urge to jump on after them.”
All entries must be received by July 31 with a Copyright Release form.
Prizes
- First Place: $30 gift certificate to Hyperbole
- Second Place: $25 gift certificate to Hyperbole
- Third Place: $20 gift certificate to Hyperbole
Entries must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document or PDF and should be emailed to Ashley Reed at areed@bryantx.gov. You may also contact Ashley with any questions.
Thank you to our sponsors
A big thanks goes out to our sponsors who donated prizes for our “Adventure Begins at Your Library – La Aventura Comienza en Tu Biblioteca” Summer Reading Program.
- Friends of the Bryan + College Station Library System
- Bigshots Golf
- Freebirds World Burrito
- Grand Station Entertainment
- Little Caesars
- Metronet
- Padlock Escape Games
- Texas Roadhouse
We thank you and we couldn’t have done it without your support!
