Thousands of Calgarians are getting ready to participate in Calgary Public Library’s annual reading challenge this summer. Registration for the Ultimate Summer Challenge opens today (June 15). The Challenge kicks off July 1 and runs until August 31. The challenge? Read every day this summer. 

The Challenge offers a free way for participants of all ages to read, play, and grow at the Library. Whether you are learning to sound out your words, are getting started with chapter books, or are someone who enjoys historical non-fiction, Ultimate Summer Challenge is meant for all readers. It’s a program every member of your family can take part in with activities and programs that will keep everyone engaged all summer long. 

“Ultimate Summer Challenge is really about getting our community excited about reading, no matter how old you are,” says Keitha Langston, Librarian and project lead for the Challenge. “It’s also a great opportunity to keep up the learning momentum through the summer. Families reading together can help create a daily reading habit that will help children head back to class in September feeling more confident.” 

This year’s Challenge map is available at all 22 Library locations and features a Summer in the Mountains theme. With spots to colour in animals and plants from Alberta’s wilderness and stickers that can be collected at the Library each week, participants will be able to see and take pride in their reading progress. 

The Challenge is fun for the whole family and will create memories that will last beyond summer. 

“When you read recipes in the kitchen, spooky stories around a campfire, or a book you’ve read countless times at bedtime, your child will form positive associations with reading,” says Langston. “These experiences will help encourage daily reading habits which will ultimately help them become lifelong readers.” 

With over 1.35 million items in the Library's physical collections and thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines available with your free Library card, there are plenty of options to keep you reading daily. In addition, the Library hosts a wide-range of free virtual and in-person programs throughout the summer which provide a wide range of experiences — meet real life superheroes at a Firefighter Storytime, connect with others at Seniors Drop-in Social Club, or get your teens to try a 3D printer at Teen Tech Lab. 

Registration for the Challenge is free and easy — just visit your local Library or calgarylibrary.ca/summer to sign up on Beanstack and be eligible for prizes. You can track your reading right in the app or on one of our Challenge maps.  

Everyone who registers for the Ultimate Summer Challenge is entered to win great prizes. Each age group will have their own set of unique prizes, including Calgary Zoo memberships, book prize packs, Kobo eReaders, AirPods Pro 2, and a Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart bundle. The more members of your family who register, the more chances your family has to win a prize. 
 
Visit calgarylibrary.ca/summer for more information and to register. For a full list of programs, visit calgarylibrary.ca/programs.