Hastings Public Library Celebrates Record-Breaking Summer Reading Program

Hastings Public Library has closed the book on another summer of reading, programs, and community fun—and this year, readers set new records along the way.

The library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program, themed “Unearth a Story,” brought together readers of all ages for a summer inspired by dinosaurs, history, discovery, and, of course, great books. This year, the community set new records across the board, with 924 readers participating, 464,393 reading minutes logged and 4,235 people attending summer programs and events.

The summer kicked off May 31 with the library’s annual Community Block Party, which drew more than 500 attendees for an afternoon of activities and entertainment. From there, the library kept the momentum going with 114 programs throughout the summer, drawing another 3,735 attendees. Together, Summer Reading events welcomed more than 4,200 visits—a new attendance record for the library’s summer programming.

While Summer Reading is designed to be fun, it also serves an important purpose—especially for young readers. Children can lose some of the academic progress they made during the school year when they are away from the classroom over the summer, a phenomenon often called the “summer slide.” Encouraging children to continue reading helps keep those skills active while allowing them to choose books and stories based on their own interests.

The library’s Bookmobile also had a busy summer, making 92 stops throughout the community
and welcoming 1,238 visitors. That marks a 229% increase in visitors over last summer, when
376 people visited the Bookmobile during 81 stops. While the Bookmobile made about 14% more
stops this year, the significant jump in visitors reflects a particularly strong summer for the
library’s outreach efforts.