“Unearth a Story”: Summer Reading Isn’t Just for Kids!
“You asked, let’s talk about it…” series. Real life answers to our tough questions. About energy and change and productivity and life.
This week’s Question: “What are you reading, Coll?”
I was invited to a Summer Reading Program kick off meeting at my local library. The theme this year is ”Unearth A Story”. My library is hoping to “unearth a new reading record” with an initiative to increase reading across all demographics this summer.
Studies have shown that a leading indicator of student achievement and school success is “reading at home”, followed by the number of “books at home”. Reading to our kids when they are small, reading with them as they grow, and encouraging them to read on their own when they are ready builds a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Our library director shared alarming statistics about the decline of reading among students and adults over the last 10 years and more. And since reading is the foundation for success for kids, we are missing opportunities to help our kids succeed.
And - what about us?!?! I didn’t capture all the statistics but for my purposes today, many adults will not read even one book this year. Not one.
Reading isn’t just for kids, my friends, it’s for all of us! My local library hopes to boost reading for EVERYONE this summer, to reverse those national trends of decreased reading, at least our little neck of the woods!
We are the readers who set the example for our young readers, yes, but we are also missing out on reading for our own benefits. Per the HealthLine article form January, 2026, “Benefits of Reading Books”, for adults, Reading
Strengthens our brains;
Increases empathy;
Builds vocabulary;
Improves mental strength in older adults;
Reduces stress; and even
Improves Sleep.
One of the “asks” at the meeting was to promote summer reading, encourage signing up and community involvement, so here I am!
Let’s start with, I love Public Libraries!
I am honored to speak at dozens of libraries and meet hundreds of their patrons every year.
Public Libraries connect and strengthen our communities. Relatedly to my passion for Public Education, evidenced by my support of my local School District including my 8 years as a Board of Education Member, I am passionate about supporting Public libraries and the unfettered access to resources and knowledge and educational and enrichment programs in our communities.
Did you know? 30 years ago, after I moved to the Chicago area from Michigan, I volunteered for an adult literacy program that met at my local library, helping people study for and earn their GED. Because… Education and Literacy matters.
In addition, as a certified professional organizer and productivity coach, of course I love Libraries!
During my organizing presentations, I recommend borrowing books and media from the library instead of buying them new! We can borrow books, CDs and DVDs, read magazines and newspapers, and maintain access to all of this without needing to purchase or own any of it. And if you want to read or consume media your branch doesn’t have, they can likely borrow it from another library on your behalf.
Public libraries are now also the keepers of Things. My local library offers anything from a seed library for gardeners and wi-fi hot spots to pickle ball sets and museum and zoo memberships to borrow for a visit or two this summer.
Our local library has been the recipient of books and media when we Klimczaks have outgrown them. When my boys were little, we would review our books and CDs and, gasp - audio and VHS tapes! - and whatever they felt they had grown out of, we would pass on to the Library. My youngest explained, when he was all of 6 or 7, "It's ok if we donate it (a book or movie) to the library, mom, we can always visit it again if we miss it." Truth, little man, truth.
After the recent meeting, I have it on good authority that my local library is seeking used fiction to be sold in the bi-annual used book sale that benefits our Library Foundation, so if you’re organizing your home this summer, your local library can likely receive books, CDs and DVDs, dvds, etc.
In terms of Productivity and personal and professional development, let me share a favorite quote:
You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” – Charles “Tremendous” Jones, author and motivational speaker.
At our public libraries, we can consume programming on a range of topics, and increase literacy and life long learning.
Summer Reading!
I have memories of summer reading, laying on my bed in my sunny yellow bedroom reading books, or on the couch on our sun porch, and meeting new people and exploring new ideas and places in the pages of books. Of going to my own Kalamazoo Public Library, where I grew up, for books and programs and the small public museum on the second floor to explore. Then there was the smaller but mysterious (and therefore) cooler local branch we would visit in a historical old house.
Summer Reading - The What?
Our program encourages all reading including books, poetry, magazines, newspapers, e-books and audiobooks. Reading out loud for ourselves and reading to others also counts!
There was a discussion at our meeting about listening to audio books, and yes, listening to audiobooks counts! I understand the conundrum, because it feels passive, but I shared in the conversation that I’m currently listening to Jane Eyre as an audiobook on Spotify and I am transported! The writing is so rich, the imagery Brontë uses paints a vivid picture, the vocabulary stretches my mind - all of the benefits! I listen to audio books while I commute, and I drive even more in the summer!
Who's with me?
And I really mean that. Anyone reading this or listening to this episode can enroll in my EPPL Summer reading program (check out the website here: https://www.evergreenparklibrary.org/) or I strongly encourage you to seek your own summer reading program at your local library. Our goals are to increase the total number of reading minutes from participants, and also to increase registrations. With accountability and tracking, there are prizes! There is healthy competition, community building! And, oh yeah, all the positive benefits I’ve already listed!
At the meeting, they shared a paper tracking sheet - there were 5 rows of 6 circles, representing 20 minutes each, and I said "you know what that looks like to me? A nice relaxing weekend.” For my part, I already read daily, so I need to step up my tracking of reading minutes, books read, and more non-fiction reading.
And I want to encourage you to participate in our program - or your own - but to make reading for pleasure, education, etc., a higher priority for yourself!
The How! (Tools)
Library card, of course, to access your local library resources!
And Books! Books you already own, books from your library, books from friends, books from used bookstores, you name it!
Don’t know what to read? If you’re seeking book suggestions for you or for a loved one, ask your librarian for suggestions, or at a bookstore, or google it on amazon. If you’re seeking ideas for a student, ask them and also their teachers and mentors for suggestions.
EBooks:
I have a Kindle App on my Ipad and phone, so I take my reading with me.
Did you know?
Many classic titles are free for Kindle. A quick search yielded something for everyone: The Complete Novels of Mark Twain, The Jungle Book (Kipling), The Sun Also Rises (Hemingway), The Raven (Poe), Little Women (Alcott), The War of The Worlds (Wells), and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Carroll)
My local library has an e-reader app that I used to have but didn’t kept up on, if I want to “check out” books from there.
I use the BookBub app to buy other e-books at reduced prices.
Audiobooks:
I was pleasantly surprised to find that my premium Spotify membership includes access to thousands of audio books. And when I mentioned that to my library director, he reminded me that…
Our local library has 10s of 1000s of audiobooks available!
A friend recommended Chirp for purchasing audio books, as well. (Though I do love Free, or included in my memberships already!)
For tracking,
A friend also at last week’s meeting invited me to connect with her GoodReads account. GoodReads tracks your current reading, what you want to read and also what you have read.
I will have to admit my penchant for paranormal romances but there are FBI thrillers on my list, too, and classics, and non-fiction for personal development, etc., which maybe makes up for the fluff reading?
Add Beanstack, the tracking platform app my library is using for the summer reading challenge.
My own to-do list:
Sign up for my Library summer reading program.
Re-download the e-reader app for my local library.
While writing this article, I took 2 minutes to create a GoodReads.com account.
Next, I need to populate it with the reading list I already have (after reviewing that list) and
books I have already read this year, and then find my friends who also have accounts and connect with them. (thank you, Kelly D!)
Include my wish list for non-fiction reading, to support my personal goal of adding 20 minutes a day of non-fiction.
Download the GoodReads app to my phone.
Download the BeanStack app to my phone.
Add “track reading” to my daily To Do list until it becomes a habit.
Talk up summer reading and share updates this summer.
And, Read!
Come and Join Me!
