It's the summer holidays, school's out and kids have lots of time on their hands. So, why not pick up a book at your local library with the Summer Stars Reading Programme.
Summer Stars is a free national programme that encourages children to read for fun during the school holidays. Whether it’s picture books, graphic novels, or audiobooks, every child can take part and enjoy reading at their own pace. Children can track their reading, and take part in hundreds of fun library events and activities hosted by their local library or libraries across the country.
Children can sign up while visiting their local library, or indeed any library around the country. They can set their own reading goals if they want to and will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the summer.
A special Summer Stars collection is available on BorrowBox, the free library app offering eBooks and audiobooks to all library members.
As part of the initiative, libraries nationwide, which are managed by city and county councils, will host a wide range of events and activities, including story times, workshops, games, and more. Families are encouraged to follow their local library on social media to stay up to date with what’s happening in their local library.
Full details are available on the official Summer Stars website.
For reading inspiration check out the RTÉjr Book Club every month, and listen to Tracy and Jennie from Waterford Libraries on Today with Claire Byrne here!
Summer Stars is part of the Right to Read Programme. The programme promotes literacy and reading development for children, families and individuals of all ages. It is delivered by the public library services of local authorities, coordinated by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
For more information, visit www.librariesireland.ie.
And there's more happening at your local library - namely My Little Library. To help children to navigate starting school, libraries have put together a bag with books and resources just for them that can be collected at any library.
As part of the initiative, a My Little Library Book Bag is available free for every child starting school in 2025 to help them to prepare for this big step. Children and their parents or guardians can collect the bags at particpating libraries throughout the country right now.
Each of the My Little Library Book Bag contains:
- A book on starting school and a second book on making friends or being comfortable to be yourself
- Their very own library card and special ‘My Little Library’ cardholder
- A range of resources for parents/children to support the transition to primary school, including a copy of Rufus Handwashing Storybook
The 'My Little Library Book Bag' initiative is a collaboration between libraries, the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of the First 5 Strategy.
