Bellingham Public Library launched its 2026 Summer Reading program on June 1, and it runs through August 31 at all BPL branch locations. The program is open to every age group, from infants to adults, making it one of the broadest community reading initiatives in the city's calendar year.
The core of this year's program is a Summer Reading Activity Card that participants pick up at any BPL branch. The card outlines a series of reading and activity milestones to complete over the summer. Once finished, participants return the card to any branch to claim their prizes. The program is completely free to join and requires no library card for initial participation, though a card is needed to check out materials.
Prize structures vary by age group. All children from birth through the teen years will receive a free book upon completing their activity card. Kids ages 5 through 18 will also receive a mystery coupon from a local Bellingham business, donated by community partners who have signed on as prize sponsors this year. Adults who complete their cards will be entered into prize drawings. All participants, regardless of age, will receive a Summer Reading Superstar yard or window sign, a small token that has become a popular way for households to signal their participation to neighbors.
The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library, a nonprofit volunteer organization that has supported library programming for years through fundraising and advocacy. Local businesses have also stepped up as prize partners, donating the mystery coupons that go to younger readers who complete the program.
BPL operates multiple branches across Bellingham, including the main branch downtown and the Barkley and Fairhaven neighborhood branches. Activity cards can be picked up at any location, and the completed cards can be returned to any branch as well. Staff at each branch can answer questions about eligibility, activity requirements, and prize pickup.
Summer Reading is one of the library's highest-participation annual programs and is specifically designed to prevent the "summer slide," the well-documented tendency for young readers to lose reading skills over the school break when they aren't practicing regularly. Research consistently shows that regular reading during the summer months can significantly reduce that gap. For families looking for more summer programming ideas, Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve is hosting a free exploration event June 14, another low-cost summer option for Whatcom County residents.
The program runs through August 31, giving participants the full summer to work through the activity card at their own pace. Families, individuals, and caregivers interested in getting started can visit any Bellingham Public Library branch to pick up their card and get started.
