Summer Read-a-Palooza!
The Summer Reading Program at the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries is designed to encourage readers of all ages to develop and nurture lifelong reading habits by providing fun incentives to come into the library. Inspiring our community – especially children – to get excited about reading is one of the main goals we hope to accomplish through the Summer Reading Program. School-aged children who read over long breaks have a much better chance of staying at grade level, or even improving their reading skills, during the summer months.
How It Works
This year's program is the Summer Read-a-Palooza 2026! Join us from Monday, June 1st to Friday, July 31st at all of our library locations: Goleta Valley Library (GVL) Express, Buellton Library, Solvang Library, and the Bookvan.
Participation is available in two easy ways: 1) Online through the free Beanstack app and website, or 2) through paper logs and entries available at all of our library locations.
Click here for Beanstack instructions.
Prizes
Participants of all ages must read at least four days in a week to earn a weekly prize! Participants may decide how many pages, books, or minutes qualify as their daily reading.
Prizes vary by age and location, from tokens to the claw machine at GVL Express, Book Bucks to redeem at the Friends of the Library book sales, to tickets for weekly and grand prize drawings.
To track your reading, log your progress online with Beanstack or pick up a paper log at any of our libraries.
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Coupons and Prizes to:
Birkholm’s Bakery & Café
Bob's Well Bread
Book Loft
California Nature Art Museum
Coffee House by Chomp
Home Connection
Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates
Mystic Merchant
New Frontiers Natural Marketplace
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House
Solvang Bakery
Solvang Ultimate Escape Rooms
Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA
Valley Hardware and Garden Center
Olsen's Danish Village Bakery
Drover's Doughnuts
Subway (#5776)
Lefty's Coffee
Plus!
"Book Bucks" to Friends of the Library of the Santa Ynez Valley Book Sale
Mini Magnifiers
and more!
Activities
All participants can also complete fun activities at home or around town to earn additional ticket entries into our prize drawings.
Tickets are awarded for every five activities completed -- the more activities you complete, the better your chances of winning!
Activities can be logged through Beanstack or using one of our paper logs.
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Access Online Learning Tools (Any e-Resources from the Library)
Add a Book to a Little Free Library
Attend a Craft Day @ the Library
Attend a Program at the Senior Center (Play Bridge, Take a Walk, Have a Meal)
Attend a Storytime @ the Library
Borrow from a Seed Library
Borrow from The Library of Things (Induction Stove Top, Home Energy Kit, etc.)
Choose a Sticker
Complete a Scavenger Hunt @ the Library
Count the Storks in Solvang or the Ostriches in Buellton
Do a Puzzle or Play a Game
Do Some Coloring or Drawing
Do Some Writing, Journal, Poem – Short or Long!
Download or Stream from Our Online Collections
Dress as Your Favorite Book Character
Go Ice Skating for Free with Your Library Card
Go Stargazing
Go to a Book Club
Go to a Farmer’s Market
Go to a Fiber Arts Club Meeting (Knit or Crochet!)
Go to a Mahni’s Reptile Show
Have a Game Night @ Home or @ the Library
ID an Insect with the free iNaturalist app
Learn a New Skill or Try Out a New Hobby
Listen to an Audiobook
Perform a Puppet Show at the Library
Pick Up a Bird Journal @ the Library
Read a Book Made Into a Movie or Watch a Movie of a Book
Read a Staff Pick
Read Outside of Your Comfort Zone (Try a New Genre)
Read to a Friend
Read to a Pet at Home
Send Someone a Card or Postcard
Take a Hike to Nojoqui Falls or Another Park
Take Home a Craft Kit
Try a New Recipe (Check Out a Cookbook, Make a Meal Plan)
Visit a Museum or Park With a Pass
Visit Hans Christian Anderson Park
Visit the Los Olivos Library Branch
Visit the Santa Ynez Library Branch
Visit the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden
Watch a Movie @ the Library
Watch A Parade! Old Santa Ynez Days or the 4th of July!
Watch a Rocket Launch
Watch the Fireworks at Old Mission Santa Ines
Watch the Sun Set or Rise