At the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, the annual fun-filled Summer Reading Program for all ages will begin on Saturday, June 10th. This year’s program – All Together Now – will run for seven weeks through July 29th and celebrates the many wonderful ways that libraries and reading bring us together as a community. There is something for everyone at the library this summer, from earning community service hours by becoming a Teen Volunteer, to winning fantastic prizes, to participating in the Stuffed Animal Sleepover. Read on to learn more!
Volunteering
Teen volunteers ages 14-17 can earn community service hours by volunteering at the library this summer! They are an integral part of the program, as youth-level participants report on their reading to teen volunteers in order to receive their prizes. In addition, our team of teen volunteers help library staff set up for entertaining programs including magic shows, craft days, and the Stuffed Animal Sleepover.
- If you are interested in becoming a teen volunteer at Goleta Valley Library, complete an application packet and bring it with you to the orientation on Saturday, June 3rd from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. at Goleta Valley Library.
- If you are interested in becoming a Teen Volunteer at Solvang Library or Buellton Library, complete the Santa Ynez Valley Libraries application packet and bring it with you to the orientation on Saturday, June 3rd from 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. at Solvang Library.
For more information, contact your local branch directly at goletavalleylibrary@cityofgoleta.org, solvanglibrary@cityofgoleta.org and buelltonlibrary@cityofgoleta.org.
Earning Prizes by Reading
Inspiring our community to get excited about reading is one of the main goals we hope to accomplish through the Summer Reading Program. Young people who read over vacation breaks from school have a much better chance of staying at grade level, or even improving their reading skills, during the summer months. Plus, a reading habit that is established early can become a lifelong practice that improves literacy in the community overall.
Every year, our local businesses help motivate readers by supporting this important literacy program with donated prize incentives that participants can earn at different milestones based on the number of books they read. Participants in the Youth category (grades 6 and below) earn prizes for every five books they read, and participants in the Teen category (grades 7-12) earn prizes for every book they read. Similarly, participants in the Adult category (ages 18+) receive one prize drawing ticket for each book they read, which they can enter in the library’s weekly prize drawings. The full list of prizes at Goleta Valley Library is available here.
Reading logs and prize drawing tickets will be available at the Goleta Valley Library, Bookvan, Buellton Library, and Solvang Library beginning June 10th. Reading in all formats is welcome, including print books, graphic novels, eBooks, and audiobooks. Click here to access eBooks and audiobooks for free with your library card.
Special Events
Each week, programs and special performances will be held across our three library locations for patrons of all ages! The full event schedule is available on our website calendar, or download a copy of the event schedule for Goleta Valley Library and Solvang Library.
We are excited to read with you this summer! Reading recommendation lists for all ages are available on our website to help you get started, including the 2023-24 Battle of the Books list and even Book Club Kits that you can share with your fellow bookworms.
The Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries would like to thank the generous sponsors of the 2023 Summer Reading Program: Albertsons, Birkholms Bakery, Blenders in the Grass, The Book Loft, Casa Cassara Winery & Vineyard, Chipotle, Chomp!, Creation Station, The Elverhoj Museum, Friends of the Goleta Valley Library, Goleta Depot, Golf ‘N’ Stuff, Kyle’s Kitchen, Ice in Paradise, Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates, Isla Vista Food Co-op, Islands Burgers, Los Arroyos, Mother Hubbards, MOXI Museum, Mystic Merchant, Nathalie’s Dollhouse, New Frontiers Natural Marketplace, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ocean Nails & Spa, Old Town Coffee, Pattibakes, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House, Solvang Bakery, South Coast Deli, South Coast Montessori, Stuart C. Gildred YMCA, The Wildling Museum, and Woodstock’s Pizza.