More than 350 community members gathered at Carson City Library on Saturday, June 13, to celebrate the launch of our 2026 Summer Reading Program: Wander Beyond Words. Families, readers, and adventurers of all ages filled the library for a day of fantasy-inspired activities, hands-on crafts, and the official beginning of another exciting summer of reading.
From the moment the doors opened, the library was transformed into a world of quests, dragons, and imagination. New participants signed up for Summer Reading, picked up their welcome materials, and received one of this year’s most anticipated keepsakes—a mysterious dragon egg to accompany them on their reading journey. Along with their dragon eggs, readers received age-appropriate sign-up goodies, reading materials, and everything they needed to begin tracking their progress throughout the summer.
Visitors explored activity stations located throughout the library, each offering a unique adventure. Aspiring dragon keepers decorated colorful Dragon Nests to create the perfect home for their newly adopted dragon eggs, while creative builders designed personalized swords and shields fit for heroes embarking on epic quests.
One of the day’s most popular attractions was Mead Making, where participants learned about the history of one of the world’s oldest beverages before creating a family-friendly version to enjoy at home. It was a fun blend of history, culture, and hands-on learning that perfectly matched this year’s fantasy theme.
Families also created their own fantasy maps, crafted miniature buttons, tested their skills with games and challenges, and explored every corner of the library in search of their next adventure. Throughout the day, laughter, creativity, and excitement filled every room as children, teens, and adults discovered that the library is a place where imagination comes to life.
Summer Reading is about more than tracking books—it is about building a community of readers, encouraging lifelong learning, and creating memorable experiences for families throughout the season. Whether someone signed up for the first time or returned as a longtime participant, every visitor became part of this year’s journey to Wander Beyond Words.
The overwhelming turnout of more than 350 attendees reflects the incredible enthusiasm our community has for reading and lifelong learning. We are grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate the beginning of Summer Reading and helped make our kickoff celebration such a tremendous success.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the many staff members, volunteers, and community partners whose time and dedication made this event possible. Their creativity and hard work transformed the library into a magical destination where every family could create lasting memories together.
A special thank you goes to the Friends of the Carson City Library and Browser’s Corner Bookstore, whose fundraising efforts help make our Summer Reading Program possible each year. Their support provides funding for programs, activities, prizes, and educational experiences that enrich our community throughout the summer. Every time you shop at Browser’s Corner Bookstore or donate gently used books, you are directly supporting Carson City Library and helping create free opportunities for readers of all ages.
Although the kickoff celebration has come to an end, the adventure is just beginning. Wander Beyond Words continues through August 15, with free programs, performances, STEAM activities, crafts, outreach events, and reading challenges for children, teens, and adults.
There’s still plenty of time to join the adventure. Stop by Carson City Library to sign up, start reading, and discover all the magic waiting for you this summer.
