Our annual Summer Reading program for all ages starts June 22.
Did you know that summer reading programs are a proven tool to help bridge the summer gap between school years and to maintain academic achievement? They also help build a lifelong love of reading. Read more about the impact of summer reading.
This free program is offered at all library branches. Participants earn prize raffle tickets for every milestone they reach!
All reading counts! We love books, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines & comics. You can also read aloud to someone else, or have someone read aloud to you.
How it works
Kids 0-13
- Get your Summer Reading Club materials. Starting June 22 register at any of our 11 locations. Receive a reading log book to track your reading, then borrow some books to get started!
- Read all summer and tracking your progress in your log book. Colour in a shape for each 20 minutes of reading.
- Join Programs: check our events calendar for fun programs.
- Enter to win prizes. After you have reached a milestone (300, 600, 900, and 1200 minutes, bring your log sheet back to the library and staff will give you a ballot for one of our grand prize raffles! You can also collect a free treasure box item when you reach a milestone! To be eligible for prizes show your log sheets to library staff by the end of the day on August 31st
Teens & Adults
- Pick up a Summer Reading Challenge BINGO card from your library starting June 22
- Read or listen in any format and check off the applicable BINGO squares.
- Join Programs. Check out our events calendar to find out what is happening at your library.
- Enter to win prizes. Each finished line on your BINGO card earns you a raffle ticket. Show your card to library staff to get your tickets. To be eligible for prizes show your BINGO sheets to library staff by the end of the day on August 31st
Prizes
Kids Grand Prizes
- Overnight stay courtesy of the Holiday Inn Sydney Waterfront and a $50 gift card to Selkie’s Neighbourhood Diner.
- Little Tikes Shady Jump N’ Slide.
- $150 LEGO gift card (from the official LEGO Canada online store).
Teen/Adult Grand Prizes
- Stay in an Otentik at the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in 2025, courtesy of Parks Canada.
- Book Lover’s Prize (Indigo and On Paper Books Gift Cards)
- Instant Camera and Film
CBRL Summer Reading Club Rules and Regulations
Eligibility
The CBRL summer reading club is open to all residents of, and visitors to, Cape Breton and Victoria Counties. Current members of the Cape Breton Regional Library Board and employees of the Cape Breton Regional Library may participate in the club but cannot win prizes. Immediate family members of current board members and staff—e.g. their children, grandchildren, partners, parents, and siblings—may participate and win prizes.
Privacy
All personal information required to enter the club, such as name and contact information, is collected solely for the purpose of administering the program and will not be used for any other purpose. By providing this information, you consent to it being used for the stated purposes.
By participating in the club, participants permit CBRL to use their first name, first initial of their surname, and their home branch on the library’s website and/or social media platforms when announcing the winners of the Grand Prize Draws. The winner or the winner’s parent or guardian (if the winner is under 18) will be asked for consent prior to any photographs being taken and shared on CBRL’s website and/or social media platforms. Photos may be featured on CBRL’s website and/or social media platforms and may be used by CBRL for any future promotional and publicity purposes without further compensation.
Selection and Notification
Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries received prior to the program closing date.
The odds of winning are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received. Winners will be notified within three (3) days of selection by the form/method of contact they provided when they initially registered for the program (e.g. phone or email). If a winner does not respond to such notification within five (5) business days and/or does not meet the stated eligibility requirements, the winner will be disqualified. CBRL reserves the right to randomly select an alternate winner from the remaining eligible entries.
Claiming Prizes
The winner must pick up their prize or prize voucher from a CBRL branch or the bookmobile within fourteen (14) days of winning. If the winner has not picked up their prize within fourteen (14) days, the prize will be awarded to another eligible participant.
All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and have no cash value.
Staff Picks Book Lists
Wondering what to read? Here are some great Book lists to get you started
You can find more lists at at the Same Page Catalogue . Check out our staff picks, read user reviews, and request books from any Same Page library.
Books in Other Formats
eBooks and Audiobooks are also available through our Digital Library Services.
Summer Reading is for everyone! If you have trouble reading standard print books due to a physical or cognitive disability, you can sign-up for our Accessible Library Services.