The Texarkana Public Library has officially launched its 2026 Summer Reading Program, inviting families to join in the fun with a lively block party held outside the library. The event, which took place on Saturday, featured bounce houses, face painting, and various vendors, all designed to engage children and families in the joy of reading throughout the summer months.
Encouraging Young Readers
The program, themed “Unearth a Story,” draws inspiration from archaeology, paleontology, and dinosaurs, aiming to spark curiosity and a love for reading among young participants. The first 140 children to attend the kickoff event received a free snow cone and a small toy dinosaur, which they can use to document their summer adventures and share with the library.
Olivia Poulton, the Executive Director of the Texarkana Public Library, expressed enthusiasm for the program, stating, “We’ve got something just about every day of the week.” Families are encouraged to register for individual programs that will run throughout the summer, offering a variety of activities and reading challenges.
Combatting the Summer Slide
The “Unearth a Story” theme is part of a broader initiative by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a nonprofit consortium that provides annual themes and materials for public libraries across the nation. This year’s focus on paleontology and archaeology aims to highlight the joy of discovery that reading brings, while also addressing the issue of summer learning loss, often referred to as the “summer slide.”
By participating in the program, children can log their reading hours to earn prizes from a treasure box and qualify for a special surprise event at the end of the summer. These incentives are designed to motivate children to continue reading and maintain their skills during the school break.
Poulton encourages families to visit the library, located at 600 W. Third St., throughout the summer to take part in the various reading challenges and special events. For more information, interested parties can contact the library at 903-794-2149 or via email at [email protected].
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
