Indianapolis, Indiana – This summer, the Indianapolis Public Library is inviting readers of every age to step into a world of discovery, creativity, and prehistoric fun with the launch of its 2025 Summer Reading Program. Running from May 31 through August 2, the program is centered around the theme “Unearth Imagination”, offering a range of activities, rewards, and educational events to help families across the city build positive reading habits while having fun together.
The Summer Reading Program is free and open to everyone—children, teens, and adults—and includes a rich variety of workshops and experiences designed to spark curiosity and a love of reading. From dinosaur-themed robotics and fossil digging to hands-on art workshops and book clubs, the program blends learning with entertainment in exciting new ways.
Registration is now open and easy to complete either in person at any library branch, online at indypl.beanstack.org, or by downloading the Beanstack app from your mobile device’s app store. Participants are encouraged to read in any format—books, magazines, e-books, graphic novels, and even newspapers—and track the time they spend reading or listening.
And there’s more than just bragging rights for those who dive into their reading goals. Readers will receive prizes at milestones of 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 hours of reading. Among the rewards for kids are passes to the Indiana State Museum, books, dino-themed toys and stuffies, and even tickets to IU Indy basketball games or the Indianapolis Indians. Adults can look forward to prizes like mugs, stress balls, stickers, fidget highlighters, travel first-aid kits, and playful dino planters.
But the real incentive comes from the community-wide goal: if participants collectively log 20 million minutes of reading by the end of the program, everyone who contributed time becomes eligible for grand prizes. These include a Nintendo Switch and play kitchens for children, Amazon gift cards, and a contribution to an Indiana529 Direct Savings Plan. Adults have a shot at gifts like an annual Eagle Creek Park pass, a Kan-Kan Cinema membership, a 10-day North Mass Boulder pass, and gift cards to local bowling spots.
“The Indianapolis Public Library offers opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, including pre-readers and non-English readers, to connect with resources that nurture a love of reading,” said Gregory A. Hill, Chief Executive Officer at The Indianapolis Public Library. “Experience the fun, friendly, and welcoming spaces at our branches where we foster learning and belonging. Summer reading is one of the ways that The Indianapolis Public Library supports literacy in all its forms.”
In addition to the self-paced reading challenge, the library is offering a wide range of themed programs tailored to both youth and adult participants. The youth schedule is packed with excitement, featuring animal encounters with Silly Safaris, fossil workshops with the Indiana State Museum, robotics sessions, storytelling with Professor Watermelon, clay and geology crafts, and even a dino-inspired fitness event called Dino Dash. Teens will also get a chance to express themselves through a papermaking art project.
Meanwhile, adults will have their own suite of engaging events, including a prehistoric-themed movie weekend at Kan-Kan Cinema, a guided paleoart printmaking session, and several art workshops including guided painting and stone carving. For those looking to keep things educational and community-based, the library is hosting natural history book clubs and garden workshops as well.
This year, the library is also teaming up with Project Play, Inc., a nonprofit that collects gently used or new toys and books to support childhood learning through play. All IndyPL branches will serve as donation drop-off sites for this initiative throughout the summer.
Backed by the Friends of the Library and generously supported by sponsors like Forvis Mazars, Lilly Endowment Inc., The Indianapolis Foundation Library Fund, and the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, the Summer Reading Program is made possible by a community that believes in the power of literacy and public access to educational resources. Additional funding comes from a variety of donors, including Citizens Energy Group, Indiana529, and the Office of the Lawrence Township Trustee Steve Talley.
The Indianapolis Public Library has long been a central part of the community’s educational ecosystem. With over 280,000 active cardholders and more than 8.7 million annual circulations, it’s clear that this institution plays a major role in enriching the lives of Indianapolis residents. From its 25 branch locations and bookmobile service, the library continues to serve as a hub for curiosity, culture, and connection.
According to the American Library Association, programs like these do more than just entertain—they actively help struggling or reluctant readers by giving them goals to reach, tangible rewards, and opportunities to engage in social learning. The library’s summer programming, in particular, is designed to offer a safe and stimulating environment for all participants, with activities that bridge generational gaps and support families as they read and learn together.
Whether you’re a parent looking to keep your kids engaged during the school break, a teen searching for a creative outlet, or an adult wanting to reconnect with the joy of reading, this year’s Summer Reading Program provides a perfect opportunity to join thousands of others across the city in turning the page on a summer full of imagination.
To learn more or register for the 2025 Summer Reading Program, visit this link.
