Summer Reading

Get ready to Color Our World during SPL's 2025 Summer Reading Program! All ages will embark on a journey of art and creativity, celebrating the myriad ways in which art enriches our lives. No library card? No problem! You can still participate in Summer Reading.

Syracuse Public Library's 2025 Summer Reading programs will run from June 2 through July 18. This year all ages can sign up for the chance to win prizes! Start by signing up at the Syracuse Public Library or via the Beanstack app.

Registration begins Monday, May 19. Sign up on the Beanstack app or come to the library for help! If you already have a Beanstack profile, there's no need to create a new one.

Prize Note

Pick-A-Prizes and Incentive Prizes cannot be picked up until June 9!

Community Reading Goal

This year Syracuse Public Library is challenging summer reading participants (children, teens, and adults) to read 450,000 words! Look for the meter to move as summer reading progresses.

Our Community Reading Goal (About 30% Complete)

30%

Our Community Reading Goal (About 30% Complete)

Our Community Reading Goal (About 30% Complete)

Beanstack

Beanstack, sponsored by the Friends of the Syracuse Public Library, will be used to track summer reading this year for all age groups. Beanstack is an app that can be downloaded to your mobile device for free from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

You can also visit https://syracuselib.beanstack.com.

Once downloaded, set up an account and join the Syracuse Public Library (IN) community, OR ask a SPL librarian to help you get signed up. Parents, you can track all of your children's summer reading on one account by adding multiple readers (yourself included if you are doing the adult summer reading program).

Don't forget to enter your raffle tickets or have a librarian do it for you. The last day to enter logs is July 18.

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Fairfield Summer Library Cards

Free Fairfield summer library cards are back at the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Public Library from May 1-Aug. 1! These cards are made possible by the Fairfield Schools Literacy Fund, created by an anonymous donor who wanted to stop the summer slide for students living in the Fairfield Schools district. In 2025, each family with children will receive one card to stretch the fund further. Teens can have their own card if they are only child in the family. Sign-ups run from May 1-Aug. 1, with all cards expiring on Aug. 31. Qualifying children -- preschoolers through entering 12th grade in 2025 -- must live in Benton, Clinton or Jackson townships.

• Children
• Teens
• Adults

Children's Summer Reading

Guidelines

• Use the Beanstack app/website (sponsored by the Friends) or paper to record reading.
• To use Beanstack, your username will be the first initial of your first name with your full last name, no caps.
  • Example: John Doe would be jdoe.
  • Password will be “beanstack.” SPL recommends changing it after you login.
• Participants may log minutes from books, graphic novels, manga, and audiobooks. 
• Children will receive a pick a price for every 200 minutes read after reaching 100 minutes for Early Literacy readers and 300 minutes for everyone else.
• Come in weekly for a new artist packet and receive one raffle ticket.
• Participants don't need a Syracuse Public Library card to join summer reading.
• Participants may win only one of the grand prizes.

Prizes

Pick-A-Prizes (These are a little bit of everything)

Grand Prizes

• Lego Kit
• Minecraft and Comic Book Kit
• 3D Pen
• "Percy Jackson" complete series book set
• Learn to Knit Kit
• ​And More!

End of Summer Party

2-3 p.m. Friday, July 18
​All Ages

Celebrate the end of Summer with a big party!  The party starts at 2 p.m. Be prepared to get wet during the Foamzilla foam party. We encourage everyone to wear shoes to protect your feet on the asphalt. SnoCones (provided by the Knights of Columbus) will be served as supplies last.

Activities

Monday Storytime

10:30 A.M. Monday (Starting June 2)
Ages: Preschoolers (older siblings are welcome)

• June 2: Tape Painting
• June 9: Macaroni Art
• June 16: Shaving Cream Play
• June 23: Seashell Painting
• June 30: Air-dry Clay
• July 7: Painting Air-dry Clay
• July 14: Cookie Decorating

Learn an Art with Megan

2 p.m. Thursdays (starting June 5)
Ages: 6-12

• June 5: All about Photography (Meets at Defries Calendar Garden in New Paris) (Note: Children will need to bring a camera or a smartphone or tablet.) (NOTE: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO RAIN)
• June 12: Balloon Art with Ed (Registration Required)
• June 26: Gyotaku Fish Printing
• July 3: Paper Marbling
• July 10: Sistine Chapel Painting
• July 17: Relax with Diamond Painting

Fridays Programs

10:30 a.m. Fridays
Ages: All Ages

• June 6: Musical Instrument "Petting Zoo" with Bill Landow of Second Song Musical Instruments
• June 13: Famous Artist Craft (Hokusai Woodblock Printing with Emilia)
• June 20: Famous Artist Craft (Alma Thomas Abstract Art with Emilia)
• June 27: Mark's Ark Animal Show
• July 11: Dance Lessons with Angie
• July 18: Foamzilla End of Summer Party

Family Fun Nights

Time: 5 p.m.
Ages: All Ages

• June 10: Stand-up Comedy
• July 8: Action Painting (Please wear clothes you don't mind getting paint on!)

Teen Summer Reading 

The Rules

• Use the Beanstack app/website (sponsored by the Friends) or paper to record reading.
• To use Beanstack, your username will be the first initial of your first name with your full last name, no caps.
  • Example: John Doe would be jdoe.
  • Password will be “beanstack.” SPL recommends changing it after you login.
• Participants may log minutes from books, graphic novels, manga, and audiobooks. (Even Webtoons!)​
• Get an incentive every 300 minutes read.
• Participants do not need a Syracuse Public Library card to join summer reading.
• ​Participants may win only one of the grand prizes.

The Prizes

Incentive Prizes

Indiana State Fair Tickets
Tin Caps Tickets
Snacks
Grand Prize Entries
​and More!

Grand Prizes

Jellyfish brick set
Japanese garden brick set
Cat Lamp
Gift Cards
​Diamond Art Paint Sets

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​Activities

Teens (grades 6-12) can participate in a variety of fun programs in June and July! (A Library card is not required!)

​June 2025

• June 5: YA Video Gaming from 4-7 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• June 9: Read in the Sun from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Community Roots outdoor space or Rosalyn Jones Room if it rains)
• June 10: YA Jackbox Party from 4-5 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• June 11: YA Oniguri Craft (Registration Required) from 4-5 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• June 13: YA Writing Club from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• June 17 and 24 + July 1 and 8: YA "Dungeons & Dragons" Group (Registration Required; Must commit to attend all 4 sessions) from 4-6 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• June 23: Improv with Robert! from 3-4 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• June 26: YA Anime Club from 6-7:30 p.m. (Downstairs meeting room)
• June 27: YA Mask Making from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room
• June 30: Great Art Heists through History from 2-3 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)

​July 2025

• July 3: YA Video Gaming from 4-7 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• July 7: YA Sushi Candy Making (Registration Required) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• July 10: Dance Along with Amber -- Special Guest Angie Schwartz from 12:30-1:30 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• July 11: YA Writing Club from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• July 14: Read in the Sun from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Community Roots outdoor space or Rosalyn Jones Room if it rains)
• July 16: The Art of Fashion from 2-3 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
  
• July 17: YA Board Game Night from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
  

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​Adult Summer Reading

Guidelines

• Download the Beanstack app on your device. (Ask if you need help!)
• Enter the requested information when you first open the app.
• Scan the barcode of your book(s) to record your reading. (You may need to manually put it in at times.)
• The adult summer reading challenge will be in increments of 500 minutes with a pick-a-prize becoming available every other badge (or a prize every 1,000 minutes read).
• You can also win raffle tickets by attending programs and participating in library activities.

Prizes

Pick-A-Prizes!

Grand Prizes

Kindle Fire
Deluxe Chocolate Fondue Maker
Lego Orchid Kit
MTEN Pickleball Paddles Set

Activities 2025

Reoccurring

• Mondays: Mahjong at 10 a.m. (Rosalyn Jones Room)
• Wednesdays: Mahjong at 1 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• Fridays: Roaming Readers at 10 a.m. (Meet at library's front doors; must sign physical activity waiver)
  
• Fridays: All-Ages Chess Club at 4 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
  

June

• June 5: Jam Circle (All musicians welcomed) at 5 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• June 11: Flower Arranging Class (Registration Required) at 4-5 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• June 17: The Workshop, adult writing group, at 3 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• June 20: Trees & Teatime, a genealogy group, at 2:30 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• June 24: ​The Art of Mending -- Clothing Repair (Registration Required) at 5:30 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• June 26: Adult Book Club & "This is How You Lose the Time War" by Max Gladstone at 1 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)

July

• ​July 3: Jam Circle (all musicians welcomed) at 5p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• July 10: Identity Theft, Scams and Fraud Prevention Workshop (RSVP Here) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• July 15: The Workshop, adult writing group, at 3 p.,m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• July 24: ​ In the Garden Private Garden Tour at 1 p.m. (Email Sarah to receive the address.)
• July 24: Mixed Media Class with Golden Seaton (Registration Required) at 5 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• July 25:  Trees & Teatime, a genealogy group, at 2:30 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• July 29: DIY With Shelly (Registration Required) at 5:30 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)
• July 31: ​ Adult Book Club &  "The Serviceberry" by Robin Wall Kimmerer​ at 1 p.m. (Downstairs Meeting Room)

Thank You, 2025 Summer Reading Sponsors!

Click the logos to visit sponsors' websites!

And Ron Baumgartner