Join us this summer to dig into reading!
Check out the Read Beyond Summer section or the Staff and Patron Book Recommendations page for more great reads!
Creature Containment - Open to all ages!
Dinosaurs, giant plants, carnivorous squirrels, and other awesome creatures have escaped containment and are hiding in libraries, state parks, and museums to keep cool this summer!
We need your help to collect them all and get them safely home.
1. Pick up a containment booklet from one of the participating locations.
2. For each location that you visit, you receive a special stamp in your containment booklet.
3. Return your booklet with at least 5 stamps to one of the participating libraries and enter to win by Friday, August 21st.
Join us for a Dino-Mite celebration at the Southington Drive-In on Monday, August 17th at 5:30pm.
995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Southington, CT 06489
Booklets available in-person here a BML and at other participating libraries.
For more information, the full list of locations to find the creatures, and a dinosaur-themed list of programs, go here.
Program arranged by Southington Library.
Win gift certificates to area restaurants and shops!
From June 27 to August 1, participants will receive a raffle ticket for each book review form they submit, and four for completing a BML crossword puzzle!
Book review forms must be submitted by August 1st. A drawing for gift certificates will be held after August 6th. Prizes must be picked up in person. For questions, call us!
Adult Review Form
Forms are also available at the library. Like that book? Don't like that book? Earn a ticket and tell us about it! Give it a star rating and a very brief review. Please return this form to Bill Memorial Library by close on August 1st.
Adult Crossword Puzzle
Earn 4 tickets for completing this puzzle! Puzzles are also available at the library. Please return this form to Bill Memorial Library by close on August 1st.
Program info coming soon! (Adults don’t have to “register.”)
Teen Summer Reading Program
Students going into grades 6 – 12, come have some fun at the library this summer!
Teen Reading Log
Forms are also available at the library. Mark off the chart for every day that you read! Aim for about 15 minutes each day. For every 5 days you read, you get a raffle ticket. If you read every single day during summer programming you get 2 extra tickets! June 25th is the first day to record your reading, and logs must be returned to Bill Memorial Library by close on August 1st.
Teen Book Review
Forms are also available at the library. Like that book? Don't like that book? Tell us about it! Give it a star rating and a very brief review. Each book review is worth 2 tickets! Please return this form to Bill Memorial Library by close on August 1st.
Teen Reading Challenge
Forms are also available at the library. Mark off 4 challenges to receive 5 tickets. One book can count for up to 2 categories. Please return this form to Bill Memorial Library by close on August 1st.
American Library Association (ALA) lists for different age groups of children and young adults
Ella T. Grasso Technical High School’s Summer Reading website
Fitch High School 2026 Summer Reading Assignment
Groton Middle School Summer Reading Bingo Assignment and instructions here (double-sided), and a list of suggested books can be found here. Also visit their website for additional information.
The Governor’s Summer Learning Challenge titles (grade-specific links here) have been added to the Palace Project app! Also, please note: the State Library is following a different theme than us, and some of the materials and books may not apply to our theme.
“Apples to Apples” and Pizza – Thursday June 25th @ 6 pm – Kick off the summer with a game of word association and pizza! Register here.
Zines 101– Thursday July 2nd @ 4-6 pm – LIMITED SPACE – Artist and presenter Bee Leake will be running an intro to zines workshop, explaining what they are and how to make them. *Please note, this program begins at 4 PM and goes to 6 PM. Register here.
Felt Shrimp Keychains – Thursday July 9th @ 6 pm – Sew and stuff your own colorful shrimp keychain for your backpack or keys. Register here.
Origami Dinosaurs – Thursday July 16th @ 6 pm – Make origami sauropods with Ms. Alex, and learn a little as well! Register here.
Paint Party – Thursday July 23rd @ 5:30 – 7:30 pm – paint along with us at this year’s themed painting class. *Please note, this program begins at 5:30 and may go late. Register here.
Werewolf at the Library – Thursday July 30th @ 6 pm – See if you can figure out who the werewolves are…before it’s too late. Register here.
Children's Summer Reading Program
Join us this summer to unearth a story! Play our board game, complete activity sheets and earn raffle tickets for great prizes! Great programs throughout June and July!
American Library Association (ALA) lists for different age groups of children
See Teen section above for middle and high school reading lists.
The Governor’s Summer Learning Challenge titles (grade-specific links here) have been added to the Palace Project app! Also, please note: the State Library is following a different theme than us, and some of the materials and books may not apply to our theme.
Reading Log
During the month of July, children can search for a stuffed dinosaur at the library. Tell a librarian where she’s hiding to win a dino-mite prize! (Open to all ages.)
Storytime – Mondays 6/29 – 8/10, 10 AM, inside (may move outside, weather permitting).
Music & Movement – Tuesdays 6/30 – 8/11, 10 AM.
LEGO Free Build – Thursday, June 18th from 4 – 5 PM.
Come play with our gigantic collection of LEGOs! No registration necessary.
Tripledale Farm Petting Zoo – Saturday, June 27th from 12 – 2 PM. Rain date TBA. Featuring goats, sheep, llamas and, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, American Mammoth Jackstock donkeys, a heritage breed founded by George Washington. (all ages; no registration required)
Jurassic Classroom – Monday, June 29th, 2-4 PM. Visit a traveling exhibit and touch real dinosaur fossils, including high quality fossils from many fan favorite species (all ages; no registration required)
CT State Parks Geology Program – Tuesday, June 30th at 1 PM. Learn about how the land around us formed. *Grades 1-5. Registration required and begins June 16th. Click here to register.
Avery-Copp Kids History – Tuesday, July 7th at 1 PM. Life in Colonial America – find out what it was like to be a kid in 1776. *Grades 1-5. Registration required and begins June 23rd. Click this link to register.
Ed Popielarczk Magic Show – Tuesday, July 14th at 1 PM. Returning favorite brings magic fun for kids and families with lots of audience participation! (all ages; no registration required)
Kids’ Summer Trees Painting – Thursday, July 16th at 1 PM. paint and decorate a summer tree on canvas. *Grades 1-5. Registration begins 7/2. Register here.
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center: Birds are Dinosaurs! – Tuesday, July 21st at 1 PM. Did you know dinosaurs are still alive today? Explore natural materials and meet a live bird ambassador. *Grades 1-5. Registration begins 7/2/2026. Click here.
Celebrate America 250th Party – July 28th from 1 – 3 pm. Games, crafts, snacks and fun await you! (all ages; no registration required)
Kids’ Summer Dino Painting – Tuesday, August 4th at 1 PM. Paint a dino buddy. *Grades 1-5. Registration forthcoming.
Please note that some of the programs above occur at different times or on different days, and some require registration.
Call us for more information and to register, or click the links above (registration and links forthcoming).
Game Play
• Take a turn for each DAY you read 15 minutes or more and stomp around the game board. LIMIT OF 7 TURNS PER VISIT!
• Earn a raffle ticket each time you visit the library to take your turns. The more you visit, the more tickets you can earn!
• Dinosaur pictures ~ collect that particular dinosaur sticker for your log. Collect all 8 dino stickers and earn an extra raffle ticket!
• CHOOSE ONE SPACE ~ you may choose any sticker that you don’t already have to help complete your sticker log, a raffle ticket, a free prize, or roll again.
• Collect a raffle ticket and Read-Along Trading Card each time you pass GO. Use your tickets to try and win cool prizes!
Last day to register to play is Monday, July 21st.
Last day to record your reading and play the game is Saturday, August 1st.
PLAY THE GAME ANY TIME THE LIBRARY IS OPEN!
Because of the large number of players who come in on the last day: LIMIT OF 5 TURNS ON THE LAST DAY So be sure to take your turns often (earns more raffle tickets!) and don’t wait until the last day!
Turn in your Reading Log August 4-31 and choose a free book!
We will draw for the raffle mid-August, and raffle prize winners will be notified.
Read Beyond Summer
All Ages Read All Year!
All CT Reads is a year-long initiative by the Connecticut State Library to encourage lifelong reading, learning, and connection. A committee of community members pick several titles for various age groups each calendar year.
Visit their webpage to watch author interview videos, sign up to receive more information, and see the list of this year’s titles.