A.K. Smiley Public Library

It’s time for the Adult Summer Reading Program at A.K. Smiley Public Library, June 18 - August 6th! Get ready to read, and enjoy special events throughout the summer. The summer reading challenge is in the form of a bingo card this year and people can pick them up at our Reference Desk.

Note: The Art Barn is the only event that requires registration and it has a max of 20 spots.

The A.K. Smiley Public Library has joined thousands of public libraries around the world by subscribing to The Freegal Music+ Service from Library Ideas, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, registered cardholders can download and stream a select number of MP3-formatted tracks each month for free. The library subscription allows access to the music.

The Freegal Music+ service allows patrons to access a collection spanning over 20 million songs from more than 93,000 music labels worldwide including Sony Music, Epic, RCA, and Columbia. Freegal Music+ also offers a completely redesigned mobile app and website which utilizes modern application practices to ensure an easy-to-use and enjoyable experience. The free application is available for library cardholders and can be downloaded in the Apple® App Store and Google® Play store.

Visit https://www.akspl.org/elibrary/ for more information – and to start streaming music.

Saving you from a boring night at home- We’ve armed the (electronic) shelves with no-wait comic books and graphic novels that you can read right now.

Find your next great read on the Libby App- available in the App Store or Google Play, and accessible with your library card number.

Teens, we’re just a few short weeks away from the kickoff of our 2026 “Plant a Seed, Read!” Summer Reading Program here at A.K. Smiley Public Library and we hope you’re excited. I can’t wait to tell you about what’s coming your way. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions (that no one’sever actually asked me).

Will the 2026 “Plant a Seed, Read!” Summer Reading Program offer a teen book club? Yes! Pick up a FREE copy of The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Ross (YA Thriller), (S)kin by Ibi Zoboi (YA Fantasy), and/or American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Fad that Haunted a Nation by Barb Rosenstock (YA Nonfiction) from the Young Readers’ Room at A.K. Smiley Public Library any time between June 18th and July 28th while supplies last. Be sure to talk to your parents about which books may be a good fit for you! We've linked some reviews on our Teen Summer Book Club registration page (available from www.akspl.org/teens) to help. These copies are yours to keep forever, so feel free to write in them, cry on them, build a sandcastle around them, run through the sprinklers with them, drip popsicles on them, sunbathe next to them, take them camping, pack them in a suitcase, seatbelt them to a roller coaster, lock them in a vault, or whatever you like. Choose one or get all three (while supplies last). Then come to the Teen Summer Book Club Party on July 29th to talk about them and feast!

Will the 2026 “Plant a Seed, Read!” Summer Reading Program offer any teen workshops or gatherings? Of course!We have a Teen Clay Hand Building Workshop with Redlands Pottery Project, a Make-and-Take Collaboration with Feel Good Market, a Turmeric Anthotype Print Makers’ Lab (where attendees will make art using turmeric and the sun), a Video Game Tournament (with prizes), our Teen Writers’ Club, and more, all in the works and waiting for you this summer. Everything is free…my favorite price! Some of the events do require pre-registration, so check the Teens’ page of our website (www.akspl.org/teens) in the next couple weeks for all the details if you’re interested.

What about a teen reading challenge with prizes…will there be one? Yes. We will have reading logs in the form of BINGO cards with a lot of creative ideas to save you from a summer slump. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking you’re way too old (or way too young) for BINGO. But what you don’t yet realize is this is not your average BINGO. This is TEEN BINGO. See? Case closed!

Just kidding…I will tell you that in addition to reading, this BINGO card will challenge you to do things like character cosplay, cook something from a recipe, invent a villain, look at the night sky, make a fifteen second movie that captures your summer life, and do other creative things to keep your creative juices from drying up. For every BINGO you complete, you will earn opportunity drawing tickets that offer a chance to win fabulous prizes throughout the summer.

Are some of the prizes the cutest stickers you’ve ever seen? How did you know? Library Specialist and amazing, amazing, amazing (she’s so amazing I had to say it three times) artist RAdesigned original stickers that go with our “Plant a Seed, Read!” theme to giveaway as teen prizes. When you see these stickers, you will do anything to get one…even reading challenges andcharacter cosplay and making a movie about your summer life! I will do my best to describe them. The stickers are little animal/fruit/vegetable hybrids…there’s Pugshroom, Mewcantosh, Little Lettuce Cat, and more. You will definitely want to collect them all. And stickers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to prizes. We’ll also be giving away a neon sign of a tomato to hang in your room, gift cards to local businesses, and more!

Starting June 18th, Redlands Unified School District will be here serving “Lunch at the Library” every Tuesday and Thursday at 11am to young people ages 0-19 while supplies last. Feed your body and your brain at the very same time!
Teens, I am planting the little seed in your head right now that the library wishes to be one of your favorite places to be this summer. We really hope we have something in our “Plant a Seed, Read!” line-up that is calling your name. Bring a friend or make new ones!

Written by Kristina Naftzger, a Youth Services Librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library who is really hoping for a green thumb this summer.

Join us for our second Junk Journaling event! Make a junk journal from paper lunch bags or bring your own journal and use our scraps! Take everyday items and make them into something new. All necessary supplies will be provided by the library but feel free to bring materials to share or donate for future junk journaling events! Scrapbooking also welcome! Registration is required!
Attending this event will provide an extra entry ticket into the adult Summer Reading Program Raffle.
Saturday, June 27th, 2026
1:00pm-2:30pm
A.K. Smiley Public Library Contemporary Club
This event is for ages 18+

Register here:
https://www.akspl.org/events/junk-journaling-part-2/