Library Celebrates Summer Reading Success

Published on September 01, 2026

Collier County Public Library Celebrates Summer Reading Success

Congratulations to all the patrons of the Collier County Public Library for their participation in the “Unearth a Story” 2026 Summer Reading Program! Across ten locations, 3,856 adults, teens, and children engaged in this year’s program, which ran from June 1 through July 31. During this time, 1,021 adults completed 3,172 books, while 2,835 teens and children read for a total of 830,496 minutes.

This year’s summer reading theme focused on dinosaurs, archeology, and paleontology, which included dinosaur digs, crafting projects, and STE(A)M activities for all ages. During the eight weeks of “Unearth a Story,” the library hosted 402 events and programs that attracted 35,192 attendees.

One of the primary goals of the program is to help younger community members prevent the “summer slide,” or loss of academic skills and knowledge among children who are out of the classroom during the summer. Summer learning loss accounts for two-thirds of the ninth-grade achievement gap in reading, according to the National Summer Learning Association. Reading is a powerful tool in a child's education, and Collier County Public Library offers countless opportunities for readers of all ages to stay engaged, including print books, eBooks, and audiobooks.

The Friends of the Library helps Collier County Public Library branches and the communities they serve continue to grow and succeed. Their generous funding helps the library to offer programs such as “Unearth a Story” and provide valuable resources to the residents throughout the County.

To find out more, contact the Collier County Public Library at (239) 252-7350 or visit us online at https://library.collier.gov.