Reading Programs
To promote literacy and the joy of reading, the Bettendorf Public Library hosts several free reading programs for all ages throughout the year.
Summer Reading Program
"Plant a Seed, Read" with the library this summer and bloom into a reader! Participation is free and open to all ages, encouraging reading and use of the library through fun challenges and exciting rewards. The Summer Reading Program starts June 8 and runs through August 1.
Participate in Summer Reading
Early online registration is currently OPEN for all ages! Sign up now and start tracking your reading on June 8. In-person registration and physical logs to track your reading will be available at the library starting June 8. Tracking can also be completed online or with the Beanstack mobile app.
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Children's Read-To-Me Challenge: Finish 50 books
*The Read-To-Me Program is for children who mostly listen to stories or read short stories. Listen to one story or reading one small book counts as one book for the challenge. -
Children's Reader Challenge: Read for 600 minutes
*The Reader Program is for children who are reading mostly independently. As always, parents can decide what is appropriate for their children and what they want to count as reading. - Teen (grades 6-12) Challenge: Read for 1,200 minutes
- Adult Challenge: Complete 4 of 12 reading- or library-related tasks
Why Join the Reading Program?
Particpation in the library's Summer Reading Program helps combat the summer slide—the decline in academic skills and progress children and teens experience over the summer break. It is free and open to all ages, and it encourages reading through fun challenges and exciting rewards. The library also hosts a ton of free events over the course of the program, allowing children of all ages to engage in entertaining and STEAM-based activities throughout the summer.
With an additional adult challenge, the entire family gets involved, helping children form strong emotional bonds and a lifelong love of reading. So what are you waiting for? Come read with us from June 8 to August 1!
Summer Reading Program Events
All Bettendorf Library events are free to attend and open to everyone. You are not required to have a Bettendorf Library card or be particpating in the reading challenge portion of the Summer Reading Program to attend events.
- All childrens events
- All teen events
- All adult events
The Children's Summer Reading Program is presented by:
TwinState | Necker's Jewelers
Through the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation
The Teen and Adult Summer Reading Programs are funded by the:
Ongoing Reading Initiatives
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is just as it sounds: to complete the program, children who have not yet entered kindergarten must listen to 1,000 books before they do. The goal of this program is to establish strong early literacy skills and to encourage parent and child bonding through reading.
One thousand books may sound like a lot, but if you read just one book a night, you will have read 1,095 books in just three years! Rereading titles is allowed and even encouraged, as repetition is crucial for developing brains.
Registration is available online through Beanstack and at the Library’s Youth Services Desk. Be sure to visit us every 100 books to collect a small prize! After completing the program, your child receives a free book.
100 Books Before Graduation
Commit to reading 100 books before you graduate high school and get a free tote bag, a book, and more! This challenge is for students in middle school and up, and is open to homeschooled students as well. Upon sign-up, you'll receive a tote bag and a coupon for a free vinyl name sticker to personalize your bag in the Bettendorf Public Library Creation Studio makerspace. For every 10 books you read, you'll earn a collectible pin. The one caveat: You must select books that are appropriate for your reading level. Other than that, read whatever makes you happy—non-fiction, graphics novels, and anything inbetween. Once you reach 100 books, visit the library to collect your finishing prize!
Sign up and track your progress on Beanstack.
Annual Reading Programs
Winter Reading Program
The Winter Reading Program typically runs from January into February and is open to all ages. Participants must read a set number of minutes or books and/or complete challenges focused on library resources to complete the program and receive a prize. Registration becomes available online close to the start of the program. Once the program begins, you can register online or in person. Track your challenge progress online with Beanstack or pick up a physical log at the library.
Summer Reading Program
The Summer Reading Program typically runs from June to July and is open to all ages. Participants must read a set number of minutes or books and/or complete challenges focused on library resources to complete the program and receive a prize. Registration becomes available online close to the start of the program. Once the program begins, you can register online or in person. Track your challenge progress online with Beanstack or pick up a physical log at the library.
In addition, to provide free and educational activities over the summer break from school, we organize special events for children and teens.
Toddler Reading Program
Did you know listening to stories is an essential step in eventually learning to read? Time spent reading together helps children develop a desire to read independently, and beyond reading motivation, listening to stories helps children learn new vocabulary words and helps the language portions of their brain make strong neural connections. Yes, reading to small children physically helps the development of their brains!
That’s why we offer the Toddler Reading Program in October for children ages birth to five who have not yet entered kindergarten. To complete the program and receive a prize, children must listen to a set number of books read by a caregiver. Participants typically receive a small plush animal reading buddy upon registration.
TeenTober
TeenTober is a reading challenge and creative contest for Quad-Cities-area teens ages 11–19. Teens are challenged to read a set number of minutes throughout the month of October and/or submit an original creative work in one of the following categories: film, art, or writing. Winners are announced and awards given out at the TeenTober Red Carpet Awards ceremony in November.