Reading Public Library

The first installment of our cooking program series for adults at Main Library is less than a week a way! No need to register, just stop by ready to make and taste some great healthy food in this bilingual cooking lesson!

¡Ven a participar en divertidas lecciones de nutrición en Reading Public Library! Aprende a hacer una receta sana y deliciosa, y participa en pruebas de sabor gratuitas.

Literacy is power. Libraries provide the fuel.

Libraries encourage reading and lifelong learning, with essential access to resources. The need for public libraries is great, but volatility and cuts in funding mean fewer materials, and reduced hours. Our PA Forward® initiative recognizes: Literacy is POWER, and libraries provide the fuel!

We are joining forces with other Pennsylvania libraries and advocating for an increase in the public library subsidy in support of literacy, learning, and opportunity. Join us in supporting increased library funding for Pennyslvania's future.

"On the count of three, everybody say, 'Pollinators'!" 🦋🐝

Kindergarten students from 16th and Haak stopped by Southeast Branch yesterday morning to read "The Very Impatient Caterpillar", followed by making a butterfly craft and learning about our new pollinator box from Habitat for Humanity!

This pollinator box was made possible thanks to Habitat for Humanity's annual Birdhouse Challenge. Our branches were grateful to have these boxes installed to provide a cozy nesting place for pollinators big and small!

Summer@RPL is kicking off! Join us for these free family-friendly celebrations across our branches!

🌞 Saturday, June 6 at 12PM - Northeast Branch
Enjoy games, dinosaur-inspired snacks, and more!

🌞Tuesday, June 9 at 3:30PM - Northwest Branch
Adopt a dinosaur plush, watch a dinosaur-themed movie, and snack on popcorn!

🌞 Saturday, June 13 at 11:30AM - Main Library
In the Children's Department, enjoy free balloon animals, food and refreshments, activities and games, swag bags, and more! Adults can enjoy Timillion's live saxophone performance in the library and receive a free tote bag when they register for Summer@RPL while supplies last.

🌞 Monday, June 15 at 12PM - Southeast Branch
Kick off summer at Southeast with the Ridiculous Nicholas Super Science Show!

No registration is required. This is the perfect time to grab your reading logs, activity challenges, book bingo sheets, and calendars to plan ahead for Summer@RPL!
Enjoy games, snacks,

On Friday night, Reading Public Library staff were honored to attend Centro Hispano's Amigo Award Gala, celebrating former board member Nancy Campbell for her extraordinary dedication to community service.

Nancy served on our board for ten years, including four years as president, and chaired our Development Committee for six years. To this day, she remains a vital part of our Cocktails & Classics Committee. Nancy doesn't just believe in our library's mission — she has championed it, pushing our services to new heights and expanding what the library has to offer to our community.

Please join us in congratulating Nancy on this well-deserved recognition. She is forever a dear friend of RPL, and we couldn't be more proud to see her passion for this community celebrated.

Tomorrow is Library Days at Blue Marsh, presented by Reading District Libraries! Families are welcome to join us at Lakeview Pavillion for a story time with a librarian, fun activities, and a Ranger-led program about the watershed.

What's happening at the library in June?

Summer@RPL is from June 13 - August 8, featuring reading and activity challenges and free community events all summer long! Earn free prizes or raffle entries for even bigger prizes by reading or completing activities.

Join us for our Summer@RPL Kickoff parties!
🌞 Saturday, June 6 at 12PM - Northeast Branch
🌞 Tuesday, June 9 at 3:30PM - Northwest Branch
🌞 Saturday, June 13 at 11:30AM - Main Library

🔅 For children: Enjoy our Ridiculous Nicholas Super Science Show at all branches! We will have an Author Visit with Jennifer Ott at Northeast, a field trip to Blue Marsh Lake, Fossil Exploration, Rockin' Thru History Party with Damien Drago, and more! See website or calendars for dates, times, and details.

🔅 For teens: Teens can enjoy all of our Summer@RPL programs for kids & families! Plus, teens can enjoy our new Teen Book Club at Main - June's theme is Dystopian, so read any dystopian-themed novel and share about it with like-minded readers! A new Dungeons & Dragons group has formed at Main. Join our Library Block Clean Up & Ice Cream Party at Northeast.

🔅 For adults: Local saxophonist Timillion is helping us kick off Summer@RPL on June 13 at Main! Enjoy a Healthy Cooking Workshop with The Food Trust, join our Library Block Clean Up & Ice Cream Party at Northeast, and enjoy a free Junk Journal workshop at Main!

Check out our event calendar on the website for more upcoming events.

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Each of the four RPL branches offers a variety of unique programming. Not sure which branch is closest to you? Here are our locations!

📍 RPL Main Library - 100 South Fifth Street, Reading, PA 19602
📍 RPL Northeast Branch - 1348 North 11th Street, Reading, PA 19604
📍 RPL Northwest Branch - 901 Schuylkill Avenue, Reading, PA 19601
📍 RPL Southeast Branch - 426 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, PA 19602

Reading Public Library is partnering once again with Reading Pride Celebration for another Pride Library Card Contest!

From June 1 - June 30, you can submit your pride-themed artwork for a chance to have your design featured on an RPL library card and keytag!

Whether you are a professional artist, student, hobbyist, or creative community member, we encourage you to share your vision through art that reflects inclusion, community, and authenticity.

Learn more at https://readingpride.org/librarycard

Get ready to Unearth A Story at Reading Public Library this summer! 🦖

Summer@RPL is from June 13 - August 8, featuring reading and activity challenges and free community events all summer long! This year's theme is "Unearth A Story", but we won't make you dig for exciting stories or free summer fun! It's all waiting for you right here at the library.

Earn free prizes or raffle entries for even bigger prizes by reading or completing activities. Then, join us for an exciting lineup of free community events!

Featured Children & Teen Events:
🌞 Summer@RPL Kick Off Parties
🌞Ridiculous Nicholas Super Science Show
🌞 Fossil Exploration with Reading Public Museum
🌞C3BRIX Lego Program
🌞 Critter Connections (meet live animals)
🌞 Library Field Trips..and more!

Featured Adult Events:
🌞 Sax in the Stacks with saxophonist Timillion
🌞 Junk Journal Workshop
🌞 Color Your Summer (guided painting)
🌞 Craft Party
🌞 Creative Writing Workshops
🌞 Plant and Grow Day with GoggleWorks Gardens..and more!

Learn more at https://readingpubliclibrary.org/summer-at-rpl/