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Jersey Public Library Service
Welcome to the Summer Reading Challenge 2026 - Read to the Beat!
This year is all about celebrating the joy of music, from orchestras, to rap, and even K-pop.
Read six books throughout the summer holidays. Choose any books you want!
Not sure what to read? What about fantastical stories? [French] Et les histories fantastiques? Or intriguing facts? [French] Ou des faits intrigants?
Prefer graphic novels? You can read those too! [Portuguese] Preferes histórias em quadrinhos? Também pode lê-las!
Want to read a book in another language? What about Portuguese, French, Polish, Romanian or perhaps Jérriais?
Reading on the go? Listen to an audiobook, or read an ebook on your ereader. [Polish] Czytasz w podróży? Posłuchaj audiobooka lub przeczytaj e-booka na czytniku.
And this year, reading music scores will also count! [Romanian] Și anul acesta, contează și citirea partiturilor!
Could you learn something new this summer? What about learning to play an instrument? Or create a keyboard out of fruit! Or discover a famous musician or different music genre?
When you have read your books, come and tell us about them! Who was your favourite character? What was the coolest part? What was something new you learnt?
This year, you can collect your free reading pack from one of the libraries. Pop into Jersey Library in town, Communicare Library in St Brelade, or the Mobile Library van around the island.
When you finish a book, you will get a sticker to add into your pack! You’ll receive a swim pass to Aqua Splash when finish your third book.
And when you complete all six books, you will be rewarded with a certificate and a medal.
Everyone who finishes the Reading Challenge will be entered into a prize draw to win a mystery goody bag!
The Summer Reading Challenge will begin on Saturday 27th June, and continues until Saturday 19th September.
Want something extra to do during the summer holidays? You can join us for our weekly chess, board games and LEGO clubs.
There will be extra activities running, such as paper crafts and even an author visit from Gareth P. Jones.
We can’t wait to hear about all the books you have read this summer!
See you soon!
[Portuguese] Vejo você em breve!
[Polish] Do zobaczenia wkrótce!
[Romanian] Pe curând!
[French] Au revoir!
[Jérriais] À bientôt!
15/06/2026
What are our librarians reading this month?
Mark - London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Redden Keefe
Rachel - Middlemarch by George Eliot
Mary - Normal Women: Making history for 900 Years by Philippa Gregory
Sharon - The Library of War and Peace by Louise Morrish
Michael - I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Robyn - How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin
Julian - The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton
Paula - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Marco - The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
Bean - How Q***r Bookshops Changed the World by A.J. West
What are you currently reading?
Follow us on Goodreads!
13/06/2026
TWO WEEKS TO GO! Read to the Beat, The Summer Reading Challenge 2026 kicks off on Saturday 27th June! Join us at the town library for a day of fun activities, and a visit from Dave Steele, The Blind Poet, at 10am, as well as the Jersey Music Service Jazz Combo at 11am. Everyone who signs up on the day will receive a swim pass voucher to AquaSplash! The Summer Reading Challenge will start on Saturday 27th June, and finish on Saturday 19th September!
What is the Summer Reading Challenge?
The Summer Reading Challenge is a UK national challenge (run by The Reading Agency) to encourage children aged 5 to 11 years old to read for pleasure over the school holidays, which will keep their literacy levels up over the summer.
What do they need to do?
📘 Receive their Summer Reading Challenge pack from one of the libraries.
📘 Read six books about whatever they want – stories, non-fiction, comics, audiobooks, music scores
📘 Talk about their books with someone from the library – Who’s their favourite character? What was their favourite part?
📘 Receive their stickers for each book (and a swim pass for their third book!)
📘 Finish the challenge and collect their certificate and medal!
The Summer Reading Challenge can be done at any of the libraries - Jersey Library in St Helier, Communicare Library in St Brelade or the Mobile Library van that stops around the island.
13/06/2026
Join us on Thursday 25th June, 2:30pm, for our Reading Group. We will be discussing books by author Jo Nesbø.
Jo Nesbø is a Norwegian novelist and is one of the bestselling crime writers. He is most known for his Harry Hole detective crime novels.
You can borrow his books from Jersey Library, in both standard print and large print, or borrow online as an ebook via Libby, or as an eadudiobook via BorrowBox.
12/06/2026
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Jersey Library is looking for enthusiastic and friendly Summer Reading Challenge Volunteers to inspire children to read this summer!
Gain a wealth of valuable work experience, skills that you can showcase on your C.V. and make a positive contribution to the community!
You will be listening to and engaging with children, aged 4-11 years old, that are taking part in the challenge, as they talk with them about the books they are reading. Record their progress and hand out rewards to encourage them to keep going.
If you would like to apply for this opportunity or to learn more, please email Mary at [email protected]
Applications close on Monday 22nd June.
03/06/2026
Get ready for summer reading!
Whether you love a thrilling mystery or a heartwarming escape, there’s something for every mood on BorrowBox
Download the app or browse online and go all in this National Year of Reading 2026
03/06/2026
Discover the stories behind history’s most fascinating figures with the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Thousands of expertly written biographies
Free access with your library card
Available at home or in the library
Where will your curiosity take you?
Take some time out from your daily work or studies and immerse yourself in some creative relaxation at Jersey Library.
Inspired by our Aesop’s Fables exhibition on the Second Floor Gallery, we are holding a drop-in art event for adults (16+) on Friday 29 May, between 10am and 12, in the Library Workspace.
Using drawings from William Caxton’s 1484 version of Aesop’s Fables, you will have the chance to decorate illustrations on bookmarks, greetings cards or manuscript pages using acrylic paint pens, felt pens or crayons.
Come along and enjoy bringing the fables to life while relaxing with a tea or coffee.
26/05/2026
Due to the weather, there will be no Therapy Dog session at Jersey Library tomorrow, Wednesday 27th May.
The next Therapy Dog session, at Jersey Library, is expected to be Saturday 13th June.
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Halkett Place, St Helier
St. Helier
JE24WH
Opening Hours
| Monday | 09:30 - 21:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 21:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 21:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 21:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 17:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 17:30 |