Grants Pass, June 16, 2025— Josephine Community Library kicked off the 2025 Summer Reading Program on Saturday which runs from June 14 through August 9 with activities, in-person weekly crafts, a reading challenge, and prizes for all ages. The 2025 theme is “Level Up at Your Library,” sponsored by the Evergreen Federal Bank, Josephine Community Library Foundation, Oregon Pacific Financial Advisors, and the State Library of Oregon.
Participants can track their reading using the online reading tracker and earn raffle tickets for prizes at the end of the program. Community members can visit the library website at josephinelibrary.org, check the Daily Courier, the Country Weekly, or visit in-person at a branch in Grants Pass, Williams, or Wolf Creek for weekly themed activities, recommended reading, and interactive resources for all ages.
Children can also pick up a booklet with coloring pages, activities, reading logs, and more. Prizes and incentives throughout the program include the following:
Registration prize: Canvas tote bag (all ages)
Halfway prize: Treasure chest item (youth)
Completion prize: Free book (all ages)
Every hour spent reading: Raffle ticket for a chance to win a gift card to Iguana Comics or Oregon Books & Games (all ages)
In addition, some special events include:
- Pop-Up Storybook Walk featured in downtown Grants Pass business windows, Herb Pharm Picnic in the Garden, select Summer Food Oregon locations, local parks, and other places in Josephine County.
- Teen Bad Artists Club from 4:30–6:30 pm on Thursdays at the Grants Pass branch and from 1–3 pm the second Friday of each month at the Illinois Valley branch
- Bugs-R-Us presents “Dinosaurs”
o Grants Pass | Tuesday, June 17
11 am–12 pm and 1 pm–2 pm
Friday, June 20 | 10:30–11:30 am
o Illinois Valley | Friday, June 20 | 4–5 pm
o Williams | Saturday, June 21
11:30 am–12:30 pm
oWolf Creek | Wednesday, June 18
11:30 am–12:30 pm - Tween LEGO Challenge from 3–4 pm on Friday, July 25 at the Grants Pass branch
- Pollinator Pals on Saturday, July 12 from 10–11 am at the Williams branch and from 2–3 pm at the Wolf Creek branch
- Cartoon Drawing with Rick Stromoski from 3–4 pm on Friday, June 27 at all branches
- The Museum of Natural and Cultural History presents “Power Play for the Planet” on Thursday, July 24 from 10:30 am–12 pm at the Grants Pass branch and from 2:30–4 pm at the Illinois Valley branch
- Neighborhood Heroes Story Squad featuring community helpers at all branches.
o Firefighter | Friday, July 18 | 11 am–12 pm | Williams
o Nurse | Saturday, July 19 | 12–1 pm | Illinois Valley
o Food Bank & Farmer | Saturday, July 19 | 1:30–2:30 pm | Wolf Creek
o Biologist | Wednesday, July 30 | 12–1 pm | Grants Pass - Among the Stars at all branches
o Tuesday, August 5 | 10–11 am | Williams
o Wednesday, August 6 | 4–5 pm and 6–7 pm (Spanish) | Grants Pass
o Thursday, August 7 | 12–1 pm | Illinois Valley
o Friday, August 8 | 12–1 pm | Wolf Creek - …and so much more.
View the full calendar of summer events at josephinelibrary.org/calendar.
Summer reading programs have long been acknowledged by researchers and the general public as key to the long-term academic success of students. Numerous studies have shown that reading over the summer months prevents “summer reading loss,” which can have a cumulative effect. Studies show that by the end of sixth grade, children who lose reading skills over the summer are two years behind their classmates.
The Summer Reading Program and related events are offered at no cost to participants. A library card is not needed to take part. To get a library card, community members can visit their preferred branch in Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, or Wolf Creek during open hours. Annual library card sponsorship for children and adults who live in Josephine County, but do not live within the library district boundary are available thanks to funding from Josephine Community Library Foundation.
For more information about the 2025 Summer Reading Program and related events, visit josephinelibrary.org/summer-reading-program, email info@josephinelibrary.org, or call 541-476-0571.