Research shows summer reading programs can help prevent summer learning loss and close educational opportunity gaps

Hillsborough County, Fla. (June 1, 2026) - Hillsborough County Library Services is inviting residents of all ages to turn the page on summer boredom and join the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, beginning June 1.

The free annual program encourages children, teens, and adults to keep reading throughout the summer while earning prizes including tote bags, stickers, enamel pins, bookmarks, books, journals, digital badges, and opportunities to win larger giveaways including ZooTampa tickets, AirPods Pro, a Nintendo Switch Lite, Echo Show devices, and more.

All grand prize drawings will take place Aug. 1, and winners will have until Aug. 31, 2026, to claim prizes.

Maintaining Literacy Skills While School's Out

Research shows summer reading programs play an important role in helping students maintain literacy skills when school isn't in session.

  • Students can lose up to 20 percent of school-year gains in reading during summer break.
  • Nine in 10 teachers report spending at least three weeks re-teaching material at the beginning of the school year because of summer learning loss.
  • Two-thirds of the income-based achievement gap in reading can be attributed to summer learning loss by the start of high school.

Source: National Association of Summer Learning

Programs like the Summer Reading Challenge help combat "summer slide" by keeping young readers engaged, building vocabulary, strengthening comprehension skills, and encouraging lifelong reading habits.

How to Sign Up

Registration for the Summer Reading Challenge is now open. To sign up, you must create a Beanstack login and password by visiting Hillsborough County Library Services' Summer Reading tab, and clicking on the "Register Now" button. Beanstack is a free application Library Services uses to track users' reading. Participants can begin logging reading on June 1, with the challenge running through July 31.

Reading Goals

  • Kids (ages 0 - 12) - submit each hour read for a total of 24 hours.
  • Teens (ages 13 - 18) - submit each hour read for a total of 24 hours.
  • Adults (ages 18+) - submit each book read for a total of 4 books.

Community Partnerships

The challenge includes special community partnerships with the Tampa Bay Sun Football Club, Tampa Bay Rowdies, and Reading with the Rays.

Through the "Score Through Stories" partnership with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, participants can complete a special game card for chances to win additional Rowdies-themed prizes.

Youth participants also can join "Reading with the Rays" by picking up a game card at their local library branch and earning baseball-themed rewards throughout the summer.

In addition to the reading challenge, Hillsborough County libraries offer free access year-round to eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, online learning tools, and educational resources designed to support literacy and learning for all ages.

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