All ages can register for the Summer Reading Challenge using Beanstack. You can also log your reading with the Beanstack Tracker app! Click here for a quick tutorial on how to do it.
Download + print an activity log (geared to children from birth through grade 6), or pick one up at any DPLS library location any time during the Challenge.
We suggest logging your reading on Beanstack, but adults & teens who would prefer to track their progress on paper can click here to download a reading log.
Teen & Adult Challenge
We challenge you to read at least 480 minutes this summer! Read at least 60 minutes per week to be entered into our weekly prize drawings for $5 gift cards to local ice cream/coffee shops. Complete the challenge for a chance to win one of our Grand Prizes. (Each DPLS location will have weekly winners, and a Grand Prize winner.) Weekly winners will be announced each Monday beginning June 10. Grand prize winners will be announced by Aug. 1!
Prizes for the Summer Reading Challenge are sponsored by the Friends of Defiance Public, Sherwood Branch, & Johnson Memorial libraries.
Kids Challenge
Both reading and activities count toward your Summer Reading goal. Kids can either pick up a reading & activity log at any DPLS library beginning June 1, or log their reading on Beanstack. Kids who register will receive a free book, while supplies last! Upon registration, kids age 3 to grade 6 will also receive a dog tag, chain, and beads. Children birth-age 2 will get a toy link. Complete the challenge for a chance to win the grand prize: KNOWLEDGE! Just kidding; it’s tickets to King’s Island.
*Must register at your home library.
*Registration Required. Click the link for details and registration information. If you are with a group or organization bringing 5 or more guests, please call ahead (419-782-1456) so we can prepare to accommodate you. Thank you!
Join us for Storytime Adventures in the Summer Reading Tent on the Fort Grounds from June 18-July 17 every Tuesday & Wednesday from 10:30-11:30AM. The stories are geared to ages 0-6. No registration is needed.
June
June 3, 1:00-6:00PM: Adventure Begins at Your Library Summer Reading Kickoff Party
June 3-July 27: Take Your Library Card on Vacation Contest (all ages)
June 4, 5:00PM: Paper Beads with the MakerSpace (open to all ages)*
June 4, 6:00PM: Mush! with Noggin the Sled Dog (all ages)
June 6, 10:30AM: Navigating the Night Sky: Discovering Constellations
June 10, 6:00PM: El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico
June 11, 10:30AM-Noon, at Bronson Park: StoryWalk Storytime
June 13, 10:30AM: Geode Geologist
June 17, 6:00PM: Pirating 101 with TAG Art Co.
June 20, 6:00PM: TAG Art Company Presents: Pirate Confessions
June 24, 6:00PM: Animal Adventures with Lily Creek Farms
June 25, 4:30PM: Adventures with Maps: The Boy Who Loved Maps
June 27, 10:30AM: Family Camp Adventures
July
July 1, 4:30-6:30PM: Messtival
July 2, 4:30PM: Campfire Safety & More Camp Songs
July 8, 6:00PM: The Rain Came Down: Let’s Explore Clouds, Rain, & Weather
July 9, 4:30PM: DIY Story Stones
July 11, 10:30AM: DIY Story Stones
July 15, 6:00PM: Toledo Children’s Theatre Workshop Presents: Twinkle, Twinkle
July 16, 4:30PM: Fact or Fiction? Adventure Edition
July 18, 10:30AM: Gotcha Day! Puppy Adoption Party*
July 22-25, 10:00AM-Noon: Adventures in STEAM Day Camp*
July 22-26, during library’s open hours: Animal Tracks Scavenger Hunt
July 22, 6:00PM: Roz Puppets Presents: The Mystery of Cackewood Forest
*Registration required. Click the link for details and registration information.
From June 13 through July 25, visit Sherwood Branch Library every Thursday at 4:30 p.m. for Storytime Tribe, featuring stories, rhymes, & lots of fun!
June
June 3, 1:00-2:00PM: Summer Reading Challenge Kickoff Party
June 3-July 27: Take Your Library Card on Vacation Contest (all ages)
June 3-29: Tiny Art Experience
June 4, 1:00PM: Mush! with Noggin the Sled Dog (all ages)
June 5-July 24, every Wednesday during open hours: Where in the World? Wednesdays
June 5, 1:00-2:00PM: Bird Watching with Defiance County Soil and Water Conservation District
June 6, 1:00-2:00PM: Icy Enterprise: Making Homemade Ice Cream
June 8, 10:00AM-Noon: Perler Party
June 10, 1:00-3:00PM: Lego Fun
June 10, 6:00-7:00PM: Campfire Fun
June 11, 1:00-2:00PM: Paracord Project
June 12, 1:00-2:00PM: Outdoor Feats
June 13, 1:00PM: Paper Beads (open to all ages)*
June 17, 1:00PM: Pirating 101 with TAG Art Co.
June 18, 1:00-2:00PM: Light Up Delight: Make a Camp Lantern
June 20, 1:00-2:00PM: Sunglass Art Scene
June 22, 10:00AM-Noon: Dragonfly Whisks (open to all ages)*
June 24, 1:00-2:00PM: Escapades in No-Bake Cooking*
June 25, 10:30-11:30AM: Inclusive Book Club with Defiance County Board of DD (all ages)
June 25, 1:00-2:00PM: Mess Fest
June 26, 1:00-2:00PM: Activities in Fire Safety with Austin Thomas
June 27, 1:00-2:00PM: Wilderness Skills with Boy Scout Ethan Guilford
July
July 9, 1:00-2:00PM: Pets in Need, Blanket Making, Indeed!*
July 10, 1:00-2:00PM: Sand Day Venture
July 11, 1:00-2:00PM: Camp Frames
July 15, 1:00-2:00PM: Fit to Be Dyed*
July 17, 1:00-2:00PM: Explore Lily Creek Farms
July 18, 1:00-2:00PM: Salamander Stunts
July 19, 5:30-8:00PM: Family Fort Night*
July 20, 10:00AM-Noon: Perler Party
July 22, 1:00-2:00PM: Painted Rock Photo Holders
July 24, 1:00-2:00PM: Water Day Crusade
July 30, 10:30-11:30AM: Inclusive Book Club with Defiance County Board of DD (all ages)
*Registration required. Click the link for details and registration information.
From June 5 through July 24, visit Johnson Memorial Library every Wednesday at 10:30AM for Storytime Around the World, featuring stories, rhymes, & lots of fun! No registration needed.
June
June 1, 10:30AM-12:30PM: Campfire Kickoff Party
June 3, 4:30PM: Camping Essentials
June 3-July 27: Take Your Library Card on Vacation Contest (all ages)
June 4, 10:30AM: Mush! with Noggin the Sled Dog (all ages)
June 4, 4:00PM: DIY First Aid Kits (open to all ages)*
June 4, open hours: Chick Chat
June 7, 10:30AM: Firefly Jars (open to all ages)*
June 10, 4:30PM: Become a Junior Ranger
June 10-15, open hours: Famous Foods from 50 States
June 11, 4:00PM: Road Blocks Obstacle Course
June 17, 10:30AM: Pirating 101 with TAG Art Co.
June 17-22, open hours, Baggage Book Bundles
June 18, 4:30PM: Kids Make: Candy Sushi
June 22, 11:00AM: Model Airplane Madness with Josh Wilson (open to all ages)
June 24, 10:30AM-close: Safari Search
June 25, 10:30AM, at Rotary Pavilion: Tails & Tales (open to all ages)
July
July 9, 10:30AM: Everything is Fossil-ble*
July 12, 10:30AM: Archaeological Dig
July 15, 4:30PM: Backyard Astronomy
July 19, 1:00PM: Planet Party*
July 22, 10:30AM, at the Hicksville Walking Trail: There & Back Again (open to all ages)
Adults and teens, click here to register for the Summer Reading Challenge!
Looking to join a book club? Click here to check out ours.
*Registration required. Click the link for details & registration information.
At Defiance Public Library:
June 3-July 27: Take Your Library Card on Vacation Contest (all ages)
June 3, 6:00-7:00PM: Short Story Writers’ Workshop (adults 18+)*
June 4, while supplies last: Take & Make Hot Air Balloon Mobiles (adults 18+)
June 4, 5:00-7:00PM: Beyond the Bell Summer Reading Open House (grades 6-12)
June 8, 2:00PM: Paper Beads Virtual/Online Session (all ages)*
June 10, 6:00-7:00PM: Silent Book Club (Grades 6-12)
June 17, 4:00-6:00PM: Crafterteens (Grades 6-12)
June 19, 3:30-4:30PM: Sashiko Japanese Embroidery (all ages)*
June 24, 4:00-6:00PM: Crochet for a Cause (Grades 6-12)
June 25, 5:00PM: Decoupage Adventure (all ages)*
June 29-30, Encampment at the Confluence (all ages)
July 1-31: Adult Short Story Writing Contest (age 18+)
July 5, 11:00AM-1:00PM: Historic Barns of Ohio (all ages)*
July 6, 2:00PM: A Pirate’s Craft for Me Macrame Virtual/Online Class (all ages)*
July 8, 6:00-7:00PM: Silent Book Club (Grades 6-12)
July 8, 10:00AM: Yoga on the Fort Grounds (adults 18+)*
July 8, 6:00PM: Paint Pouring (adults 18+)*
July 9, while supplies last: Take & Make Map Embroidery (adults 18+)
July 9, 6:00PM: A Visit with Cryptids of the Corn (adults 18+)
July 13, 11:00AM: Bigfoot in Ohio (open to all ages)
July 15, 10:00AM: Yoga on the Fort Grounds (adults 18+)*
July 15, 4:00-6:00PM: Crafterteens (Grades 6-12)
July 15, 5:00PM: A Pirate’s Craft for Me Macrame (all ages)*
July 18, 5:00PM: Author Visit & Book Signing with Mindy McGinnis (ages 13+)
July 22, 4:00-6:00PM: Crochet for a Cause (Grades 6-12)
July 30, 5:00PM: Nalbinding: Ancient Textile Craft (all ages)*
At Sherwood Branch Library:
June 3-July 27: Take Your Library Card on Vacation Contest (all ages)
June 6, 5:00PM: Decoupage Adventure (all ages)*
June 7, 6:00-8:00PM: Couples Painting: Canvas Switch (ages 21+ only)*
June 8, 2:00PM: Paper Beads Virtual/Online Session (all ages)*
June 19, 2:00-3:00PM: Sashiko Japanese Embroidery (all ages)*
July 1-31: Adult Short Story Writing Contest (age 18+)
July 6, 2:00PM: A Pirate’s Craft for Me Macrame Virtual/Online Class (all ages)*
July 23, 5:00PM: A Pirate’s Craft for Me Macrame (all ages)*
At Johnson Memorial Library:
June 3-July 27: Take Your Library Card on Vacation Contest (all ages)
June 4, 4:00PM: DIY First Aid Kits (all ages)*
June 8, 2:00PM: Paper Beads Virtual/Online Session (all ages)*
June 17, 5:00-6:30PM: Charlie Cart: Let’s Make Egg Rolls (open to teens & adults)*
June 18, 4:30PM: Charlie Cart: Let’s Roll Sushi (open to teens & adults)*
June 19, 12:30-1:30PM: Sashiko Japanese Embroidery (all ages)*
June 21, 1:00PM: International Snacks Taste Test (grades 6-12)
June 22, 11:00AM: Model Air Plane Madness (all ages)
July 1-31: Adult Short Story Writing Contest (age 18+)
July 6, 2:00PM: A Pirate’s Craft for Me Macrame Virtual/Online Class (all ages)*
July 8, 5:30PM: Cocktail Chronicles: A History of Mixology (adults 21+ only)*
Free summer lunches are returning to Sherwood Branch Library! Lunches will be available June 3-July 27, 2024, Mondays through Thursdays (no lunch on Fridays) from 12:15-12:45 p.m. at the library, 117 N. Harrison St., Sherwood, to anyone under age 18, or 18-21 with a disability. Stay and eat at the library, or grab a lunch and go.
Thank you to the community partners who make this program possible!
*Please note: No lunches will be available Thursday, July 4, due to the library’s holiday closure.
The Friends of Defiance Public Library
The Friends of Sherwood Branch Library
The Friends of Johnson Memorial Library
Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District
The Defiance Development & Visitors Bureau (DDVB)
Defiance County OSU Extension Office
Geenex Simply Solar
Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Ohio State Parks & Watercraft
Ohio State Fair
King’s Island