We’re pleased to announce that indoor Summer Reading programming will be making a return this year.

Masking will continue to be required for all adults and children over age 2 in the interests of public health.

Reading Logs for All Ages

Registration will open on Saturday, June 18. Registration is free and simple, and if you’ve signed up for our reading challenges in 2020 or 2021, you can continue to use the same account.

Reading Challenges (Birth-12th Grade)

We’ll be using the Beanstack online reading tracker again this year. Read a book (or, for younger readers, have one read to you) appropriate to your reading level and use Beanstack to mark it as read. It takes just a few clicks or taps and you’re on your way to earning badges and prizes!

Every book counts, both fiction and non-fiction, including audiobooks, ebooks, and graphic novels.

Your first goal is to read 5 books, which will earn you a completion certificate and a prize. But you can earn more prizes by continuing to read! At 10 books, and every 10 books after that, you’ll earn another milestone prize. Readers who make it to 50 books will earn a special completion certificate and prize, and can continue to earn prizes for each 10 books read until the end of the program.

More badges and prizes are available as special incentives for reading, by attending special programs, Storytime or craft sessions, and writing or drawing a book review.

Reading Challenges (Adults)

For adult readers, your first goal is to read 5 books, which will complete the program and earn you a reading milestone prize and a raffle ticket for a prize drawing at the end of the program in August. For each 5 books you read after that (to a maximum of 25 books), you’ll earn another milestone prize and another raffle ticket.

You can earn a bonus milestone prize and raffle ticket by writing a book review in Beanstack.

About Beanstack

You can use Beanstack through any web browser, or download the Beanstack Tracker app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. (Note: The Beanstack Tracker app offers in-app purchases, but these purchases are NOT necessary to participate in library sponsored programming. Participating in library-sponsored programming is FREE OF CHARGE.)

‎Beanstack Tracker
Price: Free
Beanstack Tracker
Price: Free

No Internet or mobile device access? No problem. Call 412-531-8754 anytime that we’re open, and we can create a Beanstack account or update reading logs for you.

You may see a Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh logo on the registration site and “carnegielibrary” in the website address; we are grateful to CLP for their assistance in setting up the Beanstack app for all county libraries to use.

Evening STEM Workshops for Kids & Young Adults

Each Tuesday evening from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, we’ll be holding STEM workshop sessions. These are open to kids elementary age and up, as well as young adults.
These are open workshops with no set theme. Create and play with our STEM kits, try new things, or show off things that you’ve made!
We have materials on hand for:

  • Edison Microbric Robot Programming
  • Paper and Squishy Circuits
  • Building with Strawbees and 3Dux Kits
  • Bristlebots
  • Buddha Board artboards
  • Custom-cut papercraft or stickers (you supply sticker or other special paper)

Call 412-531-8754 to register and let us know what you’re interested in.

Toddler and Family Storytimes

Storytimes will be held weekly on Tuesdays at 11:30 AM and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. The
stories and theme for the Tuesday and Thursday sessions are the same.
Saturday Storytime will be held every other Saturday at 10:30 AM, beginning June 25.
After the story, try one of our themed crafts with a take-and-make craft kit!

Registration is required for all in-person activities; please call 412-531-8754 or email dormont@dormontlibrary.org to register.

Weekday Storytimes (Tuesdays 11:30 AM and Thursdays 10:30 AM & 1:30 PM)

  • June 21 & 23: Penguins
  • June 28 & 30: Fish
  • July 5 & 7: Shark Week
  • July 12 & 14: Whales
  • July 19 & 21: Pirate Week
  • July 26 & 28: Crabs
  • August 2 & 4: Octopus
  • August 9 & 11: Sea Turtles

Saturday Storytime (10:30 AM)

  • June 25: Beaches
  • July 9: Shark Week and Photo Booth
  • July 23: Pirate Week & Photo Booth
  • August 6: Otters

Special Programs

Registration is required for all in-person activities; please call 412-531-8754 or email dormont@dormontlibrary.org to register.

Saturday, June 18, 11 AM: Kickoff Party!
Start logging your reading and join us and a mermaid friend from under the sea for a singalong and stories.

Saturday, July 2, 11 AM: Recycled Art
Give ordinary household items a new life as art.

Saturday, July 16, Noon: Splash Scuba Diving
Meet a diving expert from Splash Water Sports for an introduction to the underwater world.

Saturday, July 30, 11 AM: Sand Art
If you can’t get to the beach, this is the next best thing.

Saturday, August 6, Noon: Cosplay Day & Balloon Races
Show up as your favorite ocean character and have fun!

Saturday, August 13, 11 AM: Ending Party
It’s turtle time. See a real turtle from the Pittsburgh Zoo, and learn how zoologists are working to save turtles.

All-Ages Origami

Special themed origami sessions will be held at the library the first Saturday of July and August at 11 AM.

And More

Keep an eye on our website and social media accounts during June, July, and August, as we’ll be sharing additional programs provided by the Allegheny County Library Association in partnership with local arts and education institutions.

Illustration of a large and small sea turtle reading a book together.