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Los Angeles Public Library and L.A. County Library have launched their annual summer reading programs to help students maintain academic progress and develop a lifelong interest in reading.
The LAPLs initiative, Summer with the Library, began on June 1 and is being offered at all 72 of its city branches. L.A. County Library is launching its Summer Stars reading and tutoring initiative on June 17 at 45 county branch locations.
Participants of all ages can track reading using the Beanstack app or game boards to earn prizes like books, tote bags, museum passes, and gift cards. To maintain sustained engagement, LAPL now requires at least three weeks of logged participation before distributing rewards like its artist-designed tote bags, according to LAist.
In addition to reading incentives, L.A. County Library offers a more academic component through its Summer Stars tutoring program. This program blends reading with free, in-person tutoring in both reading and math. Credentialed tutors work in small groups three times per week during two four-week sessions—reading from June 17 to July 10, followed by math from July 15 to August 7.
“Summer shouldn’t be a setback for our kids, it should be a springboard,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “By turning our LA County Library locations into free, high‑quality tutoring hubs again this year, we’re giving every child the chance to walk into the new school year confident and prepared, no matter their family’s financial situation.”
Access to rich reading resources underpins both programs' effectiveness. LAPL offers more than six million materials, including print, digital, audio, and multilingual formats. This variety allows students to choose content they enjoy, thereby fostering vocabulary growth, fluency, and independent reading practices.
These programs directly combat the “summer slide,” during which students can lose roughly one month of academic progress, especially in math and reading, with low-income students being hit hardest. The structured challenges and regular activities are designed to offset this regression.
Beyond curbing the summer slide, these initiatives offer long-term developmental gains. Controlled studies, such as those from the RAND Corporation, demonstrate that regular summer learning leads to improved reading comprehension, enhanced vocabulary, and sustained academic progress, particularly for disadvantaged populations.
Digital tools provide an extra boost to this initiative. The Beanstack app, offered at no cost, helps readers track goals, log achievements, and earn badges—making the program both interactive and accessible.
All programs, resources, and events, including game boards, and materials, are provided free of charge. Library cards are available for in-person pickup or online registration, and services are offered in multiple languages to accommodate diverse communities.
Registration opened June 1 for LAPL, with game boards due by August 8. County tutoring begins on June 17, with two structured four-week cycles. Participants must have a free library card and separate Beanstack accounts for city and county programs; spaces for tutoring are limited and fill quickly.
These summer reading programs reflect a region-wide commitment to supporting students beyond the classroom. With free tutoring, diverse reading materials, and engaging incentives, both LAPL and L.A. County Library help children stay motivated, build skills, and return to school confident and prepared.
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