June 10–August 5Summer Reading Program

Keep your kids reading this summer through the library’s annual Summer Reading Program. The 2023 theme is “Find Your Voice,” sponsored by the State Library of Oregon. Join the kick-off celebration at your preferred branch on June 10 anytime during open hours.

Register

All ages are invited to join the 2023 Summer Reading Program. Register as an individual reader or use your login information to register multiple family members under the same account.

Featured events

Click the icon image or title to learn more.

History of voting exhibit

View the "Who Can Vote" national traveling exhibit organized by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History from June 12 through July 22.

Pop-Up Storybook Walk

During the month of July, find the Pop-Up Storybook Walk featured at different locations in Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, and Wolf Creek.

Summer book clubs

Join the summer book club for teens or adults featuring books from Oregon authors. During the last week of the program, meet with other book club members to discuss the book.

Week 1 | Theatre | June 11–17

“Craftivities” | 1–4 pm at all branches
Children | DIY puppet theatre
Teens | Group theatre game

Events
The Traveling Crew | Grants Pass | Saturday, June 17 | 11 am–12:30 pm
The Traveling Crew | Williams | Saturday, June 17 | 2–3:30 pm

Theatre week

Week 2 | Music | June 18–24

“Craftivities” | 1–4 pm at all branches
Children | DIY tambourine
Teens | DIY phone amplifier

Events
Songwriting Workshop | Grants Pass | Tuesday, June 20 | 5–6:30 pm
Songwriting Workshop | Williams | Wednesday, June 21 | 5–6:30 pm
LEGO Club | Grants Pass | Saturday, June 24 | 1–2 pm

music week

Week 3 | Language | June 25–July 1

“Craftivities” | 1–4 pm at all branches
Children | Watercolor secret message art
Teens | Word magnets

Events
Japanese Bilingual Storytime | Grants Pass | Thursday, June 29 | 1–2 pm
Spanish Bilingual Storytime
| Williams | Friday, June 30 | 11 am–12 pm
American Sign Language Bilingual Storytime | Illinois Valley | Saturday, July 1 | during open hours

language week

Week 4 | History | July 2–July 8

“Craftivities” | 1–4 pm at all branches
Children | Toys from the pas DIY whirlygig
Teens | Toys from the pas DIY thaumatrope

Events
Wayward Girls of the Rogue Valley | Grants Pass | Thursday, July 6 | 5–6:30 pm
Wayward Girls of the Rogue Valley | Illinois Valley | Saturday, July 8 | 12–1:30 pm

Week 5 | Civics | July 9–July 15

“Craftivities” | 1–4 pm at all branches
Children | TBD
Teens | TBD

Events
Everyday Civics for Youth by Youth | Grants Pass | Wednesday, July 12 | 2:30–5:30 pm
V is for Voting Storytime | Grants Pass | Thursday, July 13 | 11:30 am–12:30 pm

civics

Week 6 | Art | July 16–July 22

“Craftivities” | 1–4 pm at all branches
Children | DIY suncatcher
Teens | Self portrait art

Events
History of Grants Pass BearFest | Grants Pass | Saturday, July 22 | 1–2:30 pm

art

Week 7 | Science & Technology | July 23–July 29

“Craftivities” | 1–4 pm at all branches
Children | Balloon pinwheel interactive demonstration
Teens | Newton’s cradle experiment

Events
Bugs-R-Us Reptiles & Amphibians | Grants Pass | Tuesday, July 25 | 10:30–11:30 am & 1–2 pm
Bugs-R-Us Reptiles & Amphibians | Williams | Wednesday, July 26 | 1:30–2:30 pm
Bugs-R-Us Reptiles & Amphibians | Illinois Valley | Thursday, July 27 | 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Bugs-R-Us Reptiles & Amphibians | Wolf Creek | Friday, July 28 | 12:30–1:30 pm
LEGO Club | Grants Pass | Saturday, July 29| 1–2 pm

STEM

Week 8 | Stories | July 30–August 5

“Craftivities” | 1–4 pm at all branches
Children | Tell your story writing prompt
Teens | Tell your story writing prompt

Events
Adult book club | Grants Pass | Thursday, August 3 | 5:30–7 pm
Teen/young adult book club | Grants Pass & Williams | Friday, August 4 | 1–2:30 pm
Adult book club | Wolf Creek | Saturday, August 5 | 2–3:30 pm
Stories with Georgia | Grants Pass | Saturday, August 5 | 11 am–12 pm
Stories with Georgia | Williams | Saturday, August 5 | 2–3 pm

stories

Summer Meals Program

The Oregon Summer Meals Program offers free meals to ALL kids ages 1-18 without any paperwork, income verification, and regardless of immigration status.

Find a meal site near you

Food Hero

With Food Hero, you can budget for, plan, and create countless healthy, super tasty meals and learn how to grow your own food.

Learn more

Thank you sponsors!

Josephine Community Library and the Grants Pass Daily Courier have partnered to ensure children of all ages continue reading over summer. Each week, look for additional summer reading activities, recommended reading, and opportunities to win prizes in the Sunday edition of the Daily Courier and the Wednesday Country Weekly.

Other sponsors include Josephine Community Library Foundation and the State Library of Oregon.

By supporting the Summer Reading Program, our sponsors are investing in education and literacy in our community for years to come.