Hastings Public Library has wrapped up another summer filled with reading, programs, and community fun—and this year, local readers helped set new records.
The library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program, “Unearth a Story,” brought readers of all ages together for a summer centered around dinosaurs, history, discovery, and, of course, great books. The program drew 924 participants, who logged a record 464,393 minutes of reading. In addition, 4,235 people attended summer programs and events.
The summer officially kicked off May 31 with the library’s annual Community Block Party, which welcomed more than 500 people for an afternoon of activities and entertainment. The fun continued throughout the season with 114 programs that attracted another 3,735 attendees. In total, Summer Reading programs and events generated more than 4,200 visits, setting a new attendance record for the library’s summer programming.
While Summer Reading is designed to be enjoyable, it also plays an important role in supporting young readers. Students can lose some of the academic progress they make during the school year when they are away from the classroom, a phenomenon commonly known as the “summer slide.” Continuing to read during the summer helps children maintain their literacy skills while giving them the freedom to explore books and stories that match their interests.
The library’s Bookmobile had a record-setting summer as well, making 92 stops throughout the community and welcoming 1,238 visitors. That’s a 229% increase in visitors from last summer, when the Bookmobile saw 376 visitors during 81 stops. While the Bookmobile made only 14% more stops this year, the dramatic increase in visitors demonstrates the growing impact of the library’s community outreach efforts.
“Summer Reading is about keeping kids reading and building those literacy skills over the summer, but it’s also about creating a community that gets excited about reading together,” said Sam Rundle, Programming and Collections Supervisor. “We are incredibly fortunate to have a community that embraces the library and participates so enthusiastically in what we do. When more than 900 people sign up to read, thousands come through our doors for programs and our community logs nearly half a million minutes, it reminds us why we love doing this work and how incredibly rewarding it can be. We’re so grateful to everyone who made this summer such a success.”
The library celebrated the conclusion of the program with a Glow-A-Saurus Party featuring glowing swag, neon games, and larger-than-life prehistoric visitors. Special dinosaur guests wandered through the celebration, posed for photos, and helped bring “Unearth a Story” to a suitably prehistoric close.
Summer Reading may be over, but there are still plenty of opportunities to keep reading throughout the year. Starting Sept. 1, young readers can take part in the Golden Sower Reading Challenge and Reading Dragons. Adults can join the fourth and final quarter of the 2026 Bingo by the Book challenge, beginning Oct. 1.
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