Take the Challenge and Join the Fun!
This Summer, spend time exploring books, history, social justice, and STEAM through books and creative activities. At the Kern County Library, we encourage you to be creative, try new things, explore art, and find beauty in diversity.
Vocal readers receive (while supplies last):
✴ A FREE book from the Friends of the Kern County Library, Inc.
✴ A FREE bookmark, and digital badges when you log online.
(*while supplies last)
Sign up through the mobile app
Use Beanstack to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge and track reading online or with the mobile app.
Earn digital badges, record reading sessions, and manage family accounts easily with Beanstack!
What You Need to Know
about the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge
Why Participate?
Parents can keep children and teens learning and engaged all Summer long!
The Kern County Library Summer Reading Challenge encourages children and teens to read what they want over the Summer months, which helps instill a love of recreational reading. Numerous studies show that those who read for fun during the Summer out-perform others once back in school.
Challenge offers FREE events and programs for all ages, exposing residents to new skills, ideas, and learning opportunities.
Challenge Options
Choose the challenge that best fits your reading goals!
✴ 10 books | Read 10 books to your child or to yourself & turn in your reading log.
✴ 10 HOURS | Read for 10 hours to your child or yourself & turn in your reading log.
Complete your challenge by July 31st to win vocal awards.
P.S. Summer Reading is for Adults too!
When parents model reading, it helps show children there’s enjoyment in reading and purpose in learning. When adults read for themselves, they enjoy a range of benefits including enhanced empathy toward others, a reduction in stress, a lower blood pressure and heart rate, and it also prevents cognitive decline as you age!
Access programming
2 Ways to Access Programming for the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge
Access through Facebook
On Facebook, upcoming events are listed in Events, current events are in the Newsfeed, & archived events are available in the Videos section of the page.
Follow the Library at Facebook.com/KernCountyLibrary. All Branch handles below:
Print your Library's Event Calendar
Beale Library June-Children/Teen | June-Teen/Adults | July-Children/Teen | July-Teen/Adults
Event highlights
Lunch at the Library
Tackle the Summer heat and join us for Lunch at the Library! Enjoy FREE activities, book giveaways, and more! See below for libraries serving lunch and their hours.
MONDAY – WEDNESDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 26
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
MONDAY – TUESDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 25
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
MONDAY – FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
FRIDAYS
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 9 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
MONDAY – FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 7 – July 27
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 14 – July 21
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5.25
TUESDAY – THURSDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 6 – July 27
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 8 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
TUESDAY – FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 6 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $4.75
Thursday & Friday
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
Tuesday – Friday
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 6 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
MONDAY & TUESDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 25
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 7 – July 28
Children, under 18 – FREE*
Parents & Caregivers – $4.75
MONDAY – WEDNESDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 26
Children, under 18 – FREE*
Parents & Caregivers – $4.75
TUESDAY – FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30Pm | June 1 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $4-5
MONDAY – WEDNESDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 26
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
MONDAY – FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 28
Children, under 18 – FREE*
Parents & Caregivers – $4.75
MONDAY – WEDNESDAY
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $4.35
TUESDAY – FRIDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 13 – July 28
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
MONDAY & TUESDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 5 – July 25
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
TUESDAY – THURSDAY
11:30AM – 12:30PM | June 6 – July 27
Children, ages 2-18 – FREE
Parents & Caregivers – $5
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. The Summer Food Service Program is a program of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, administered in California by the California Department of Education. Lunch at the Library is a project of the California State Library, supported with funds from the State of California and made possible through partnerships with the Arvin Union School District, Delano Union School District, Kern County Board of Supervisors District 2 – Zack Scrivner, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Kern High School District, Sierra Sands Unified School District, Southern Kern Unified School District, and Taft City School District.
Selfie Station
Stop by our Selfie Station at the Library anytime during open hours in June & July and show us your voice! Enter for a chance to win a prize with our Selfie Check In Facebook. Take a selfie at our selfie station, post the selfie on Facebook while checking in at that library branch, tag @kerncountylibrary, and add the hashtag #KCLfindyourvoice to be entered! Winner will be announced August 4th on our Facebook. Follow us on Facebook for more details.
Megaphone Station
Stop by the Library anytime during open hours in June & July to decorate your own paper megaphone. Use it to find your voice and shout what you think or feel. Share your megaphone with your family and friends to inspire them to use their voice too!
Family Storytime
Enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, & fun for the whole family.
Storytime and Craft
Wednesdays | June | 3:30PM
Wed. | July 5 | 3:30PM
Tues. | July 11 | 3:30PM
Wed. | July 19 | 3:30PM
Toddler Time
Mondays | June | 11AM
Monday | July 10 | 11AM
Monday | July 17 | 11AM
Monday | July 24 | 11AM
Surprise Storytime
Tuesdays | June | 11AM
Monday | July 3 | 11AM
Tuesday | July 11 | 11AM
Tuesday | July 18 | 11AM
Tuesday | July 25 | 11AM
SRC Kickoff Storytime
Mon. | June 5 | 11:00AM
Preschool Storytime
Tuesdays | June-July | 10:30AM
Toddler Time
Thursdays | June-July | 10:30AM
Family Storytime
Fridays | June | 5PM
Saturdays | June-July | 12PM
Friday | July 7 | 5PM
Friday | July 14 | 5PM
Friday | July 28 | 5PM
Toddler Time
Fridays | June-July | 10:45AM
Family Storytime and Craft
Fridays | June-July | 12PM
Toddler Time
Thurs. | June 1 | 11AM
Thurs. | June 15 | 11AM
Thurs. | June 29 | 11AM
Thurs. | July 13 | 11AM
Thurs. | July 27 | 11AM
Family Storytime
Tuesdays | June | 12:30PM
Tuesday | July 11 | 2PM
Tuesday | July 18 | 12:30PM
Tuesday | July 25 | 12:30PM
Preschool Storytime
Thurs. | June 8 | 11AM
Thurs. | June 22 | 11AM
Thurs. | July 6 | 11AM
Thurs. | July 20 | 11AM
Toddler Time
Thursdays | June-July | 10:45AM
Family Storytime and Craft
Thursdays | June-July | 11:30AM
Family Storytime
Wednesdays | June | 1:00PM
Fridays | July | 1:00PM
Children’s Storytime
Fridays | June | 12PM
Wednesdays | July | 12PM
Early Learner Storytime
Thursdays | June | 1:00PM
Wed. | June 7 | 12PM
Thursdays | July | 2:00PM
Storytime & Crafts
Thursdays | June | 12PM
Toddler Time
Wed. | June 14 | 12PM
Wed. | June 28 | 12PM
Rainbow Reads Family Storytime
Tues. | June 27 | 5PM
Family Storytime
Thursdays | June-July | 2PM
Baby Bounce
Fri. | June 2 | 10:30AM
Fri. | July 7 | 10:30
Toddler Time
Fri. | June 9 | 10:30AM
Fri. | July 14 | 10:30AM
Lunch Bunch Interactive Storytime
Wed. | June 7 | 12PM
Wed. | June 21 | 12PM
Wed. | June 28 | 12PM
Wed. | July 5 | 12PM
Wed. | July 19 | 12PM
Wed. |. July 26 | 12PM
Draw and Cut Stories
Tues. | June 13 | 11:45AM
Tues. | July 11 | 11:45AM
Find Your Animal Voice Storytime
Fri. | June 2 | 11:30AM
Storytime & Crafts
Fridays | June | 3:30PM
Fri. | July 7 | 3:30PM
Fri. | July 14 | 3:30PM
Fri. | July 21 | 3:30PM
Thurs. | July 27 | 3:30PM
Little Listeners Storytime
Fri. | June 9 | 11AM
Fri. | June 23 | 11AM
Fri. | June 30 | 11AM
Fridays | July | 11AM
Tell Me a Story
Saturdays | June-July | 3PM
Toddler Time
Mondays | June-July | 10:45AM
Family Storytime & Craft
Mondays | June-July | 12PM
Toddler Time
Wednesdays | June-July | 11AM
Surprise Storytime
Thursdays | June-July | 11AM
Family Storytime
Tuesdays | June | 2PM
Tues. | July 11 | 11AM
Tues. | July 18 | 2PM
Tues. | July 25 | 2PM
Baby Bounce
Mon. | June 5 | 10:30AM
Mon. | July 3 | 10:30AM
Toddler Time
Mon. | June 12 | 10:30AM
Mon. | July 10 | 10:30AM
Family Storytime
Thursdays | June-July | 10:30AM
Toddler Time
Tues. | June 20 | 10:30AM
Tues. | July 18 | 10:30AM
Preschool Storytime
Mondays | June-July | 11AM
Family Storytime & Craft
Tuesdays | June-July | 2PM
Family Storytime & Craft
Mondays | June-July | 10:30AM
Toddler Time
Tues. | June 13 | 10:30AM
Tues. | June 27 | 10:30AM
Early Learners Storytime
Tues. | July 11 | 10:30AM
Tues. | July 25 | 10:30AM
Grandma’s Attic Storytime
Saturdays | June | 10:30AM
Family Storytime
Mondays | June-July | 11AM
Preschool Storytime
Tues. | June 13 | 10:15AM
Tues. | June 27 | 10:15AM
Tues. | July 18 | 10:15AM
Toddler Time
Tues. | June 20 | 10:15AM
Tues. | July 11 | 10:15AM
Tues. | July 25 | 10:15AM
Preschool Storytime
Fri. | June 9 | 11AM
Fri. | June 23 | 11AM
Family Storytime
Fri. | June 16 | 12:30AM
Fri. | June 30 | 12:30AM
Toddler Time
Tues. | June 6 | 11AM
Tues. | June 27 | 11AM
Toddler Time
Tues. | June 6 | 11AM
Mon. | July 10 | 11AM
Family Storytime & Craft
Tues. | June 13 | 12:30PM
Tues. | June 27 | 12:30PM
Tues. | July 18 | 12:00PM
Tues. | July 25 | 12:30PM
Celebrity Reader Storytime & Craft
Tues. | July 11 | 12:30AM
Bilingual Storytime
Wed. | June 7 | 3PM
Wed. | July 5 | 3PM
Family Storytime
Wed. | June 14 | 3PM
Wed. | June 28 | 3PM
Wed. | July 12 | 3PM
Wed. | July 19 | 3PM
Musical Storytime
Wed. | June 21 | 3PM
Wed. | July 26 | 3PM
Coloring Station
Stop by our coloring station and make new friends while expressing yourself through color. Take a coloring sheet or an activity sheet and have some fun! All month long we will have coloring sheets ready for you, so come on by!
I AM Collage Station
Stop by the Library anytime during open hours in June & July and put together a collage of cut out adjectives to describe who you are.
Kern Reads Virtual Book Clubs
Join us online for a live book discussion. Watch on Facebook or pre-register to join.
One-On-One Tech Help
Learn how to download eBooks to your mobile device, as well as es-sential skills for using a computer & setting up an email address. By Appointment.
Job Seeker Assistance
Get help with preparing your resume, practice for a mock interview, or get help accessing the Library’s Job Seeker Toolkit and resources. By Appointment.
Sponsors
A special thanks to the Friends of the Kern County Library, Inc. and individual branch Friends’ groups for their support of the Summer Reading Challenge.
Additional Support:
Big Blue Bear
Black Gold Brewing Company
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science
Carquest Auto Parts
Cheryl’s Diner
Coopers True Value Home Center
Crumbl Cookies
CSUB
Dave & Buster’s
Dave’s Glass Shop
Dealz
Domino’s Pizza
DoorDash
DR. Charles Walker, DDS
Family Food Mart
Fastrip
Fertile Earth Nursery and Garden Center
Foster’s Donuts
Gaslight Melodrama
Hello Fresh
Jamba Juice – Marketplace
Jesse’s Pizza
Jo’s Family Restaurant
La Cima Mexican Food & Cantina
La Rosa
La Salsa Restaurant & Catina (Taft)
Long John Silver’s
Luigi’s Italian Restaurant
Maya Cinemas
Mi Casita
Mister Car Wash Mountain Vista Market & Gas
Mt. Mesa Lanes
Naked Wines
Nelda’s Diner
Old Isabella Coffee Co.
Ovation Theatre
Packed Plates
Patin Photography
Patty’s Cafe
Personal Style
Pizza Barn
Ridgecrest United Methodist Church
R & M Snow Fun Shaved Ice
Roberto’s Mexican Food
Route 33 Sandwich Company
Schu-Fu Martial Arts Dojo #119
Sno-White Drive-In
Sparkling Image Car Wash
Studio 1 PMC
Taft Family Tire
Tahoe Joe’s
Taqueria Los Charros Del Neri
Texas Roadhouse
The Bank Sports Lounge
The Same Place Cafe
West Side Recreation & Park District
Westside Furniture
Wienerschnitzel
Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds
Yogurt Zone
