Summer Reading has started at the John McIntire Library

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Muskingum County Library System, or MCLS, has started a weeklong celebration this morning with the first Summer Reading Kick-Off event.

Saturday’s event at the John McIntire Library featured outdoor games, a chance to check out the bookmobile, invites everyone to sign-up for the 2026 Summer Reading Program. During that program, you can log your reading time in exchange raffle tickets. Youth Service Manager Katie Merritt was excited to share some of the prizes that are up for grabs.

“Oh we got some good ones. We got a Bluey bundle. So you’ll get seasons 1-3 of Bluey along with some books. We have $150 gift card to Riesbeck’s. We have a Nintendo Switch Lite with a game, we have a one night stay at Dillon State Park, and then… What else do we have? We just have so much and then we have book sets like the ‘The Wild Robot’ and ‘The Maze Runner’ and stuff like that,” Merritt said.

The Summer Reading Program is open readers of all ages and runs from May 30 to July 31. Stacey Russell is the executive director of the MCLS and shares her favorite part about Saturday’s event.

“I think just seeing families in the building. Summer reading is more than just for children. When I was growing up it was just for kids but we serve all ages in summer reading. Adults can participate too. Just seeing people in the building and using the building cause, of course, we’ve been open a month now. So we’re excited to be busy and have people in the building,” Russell said.

Vanessa Tiberio is a local teacher who brought her family in to register. Her two children were excited for this years dinosaur theme, Unearth a Story.

“We love exploring the library and being a teacher, I want to keep my reading so it’s a fun incentive to keep my kids reading over the summer and not just sitting and watching TV or doing other things,” Tiberio said.

More Summer Reading Kick-Offs will be taking place at all MCLS locations starting Monday at the Roseville Branch Library. The program has a community goal of 2.5 million minutes read.

Summer Reading Kick-Offs

Sign up for Summer Reading at any of the events below.

• John McIntire Library — Saturday, May 30 | 11 AM-2 PM
• Roseville Branch Library — Monday, June 1 | 4-6 PM
• New Concord Branch Library — Tuesday, June 2 | 4-5:30 PM
• Duncan Falls/Philo Branch Library — Wednesday, June 3 | 4-6 PM
• South Branch Library — Friday, June 5 | 11 AM-1 PM
• Dresden Branch Library — Saturday, June 6 | 11 AM-1 PM