All our libraries will be taking part in the annual Summer Reading Challenge (presented by The Reading Agency) which will be officially launched on Saturday 5 July 2025. This year’s theme is Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors.
The Story Garden theme will provide plenty of opportunities for children to explore their imagination and experience adventures in nature and the great outdoors through the power of reading.
The challenge is delivered in partnership with libraries and designed to ensure that primary school children keep up their reading skills over the summer, as well as providing much-needed entertainment.
Children can sign up at their local library any time throughout the summer, from Saturday 5 July 2025, with the challenge being to read 6 or more library books. Youngsters will collect up to 6 stickers and once they have collected them all they will have completed the challenge and receive a medal and certificate.
The challenge is being launched at Chesterfield library on Saturday 5 July 2025 from 10am to midday. Super sign-up Saturday, as it is being called, will see activities taking place at most Derbyshire libraries.
Councillor Dawn Abbott, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said:
"It’s vital that children keep up their reading skills over the long summer holiday and the Summer Reading Challenge is a brilliant way to do that. It also introduces youngsters to all that our libraries have to offer them.
"Encouraging children to read independently and helping them to develop a love of books and reading has enormous benefits for their development and educational achievement."
Derbyshire libraries will be hosting a variety of events and activities to entertain children, with many linked to the reading challenge. People who are interested in taking part can find events listed on the libraries’ Facebook page, the what’s on section of the libraries website or contact their local library for details.
Last year’s challenge saw 4,477 people signing up to the challenge in Derbyshire, with 723 more children joining the library so that they could take part.
During the challenge Derbyshire libraries issued 150,836 children’s books and 4,297 children’s e-audio and e-books.
Over the course of the challenge Derbyshire’s libraries hosted 187 events and drop-ins, with 3,354 people taking part.
The challenge is free to join and runs until 6 September 2025.
Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge.