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Connecticut Summer Reading Program

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CT State Library - Division of Library Development - Connecticut Reads

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The Connecticut Reads program is growing before our very eyes. The Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge, the CT Summer Story Project, and more is on the way.

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Free books for students in Hartford and New Britain 

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Free books for students in Hartford and New Britain 

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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland.

Inspired by her father's inability to read and write Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over 2 million free books each month to children around the world.

"When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer.

The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world."

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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library | USA, UK, IE, CA, AU

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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas.

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Log your reading, write reviews, and embrace your artistic side with this downloadable activity booklet.

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By Amy Cowen on November 4, 2022 4:00 PM
Inspire students of all ages to enjoy STEM when you let them loose in a creative makerspace! These hands-on engineering activities use simple materials and encourage students to brainstorm, problem solve, and innovate.
Enabling Exploration

Community makerspaces are collaborative spaces where people of all ages can get hands-on with science and engineering. With an array of materials available, a visit to a local makerspace is an invitation to play with science and engineering and really see how things work.

You may have a makerspace in your school or at the library, or maybe you have an area of your classroom dedicated to maker activities students can explore or certain days of the week on which you turn the room into a makerspace. With a few materials and a surface to work on, garage or basement spaces can easily be recast as home makerspaces, too!

You don't have to have expensive materials to start up your own makerspace. With an assortment of craft supplies, electronics parts, and recycled materials, you can set up a makerspace full of inspiring STEM that kids can explore. Figuring out what will work with the materials available is part of the challenge and part of the fun!

Bookmark or pin these projects to add to your makerspace!

Update! This post has been updated for 2022!

Free Projects and Activities for Your Makerspace

Try one of these STEM projects for creative hands-on science and engineering with a DIY "maker" flair:

1. Make Cardboard Automata: Plan and build an automaton from cardboard and craft materials.

2. Build a Wind-Powered Car: Add a sail to a DIY toy car and experiment to see how changes to the sail make a difference in the car's stability and speed.

3. Build a Differential from K'Nex®: Use the K'Nex® toy building system to build a model differential.

4. Build A Wall Marble Run: Use cardboard tubes and other simple materials to build a wall marble run.

5. Make an Awesome Paper Lantern: Design and make a paper lantern that holds a battery-operated tealight candle or uses a night light circuit.

6. Flippy, the Dancing Robot: Build a simple dancing robot and use the engineering design process to improve it.

7. Build a Paper Roller Coaster: Build a paper roller coaster and try to add a loop.

8. 3D Print with Sand: No 3D Printer Required!: Use sand and glue to simulate one type of 3D printing.

9. DIY Mini Propeller Car: Make a small toy car with a simple circuit and a propeller.

10. Build a Robot Hand: Use craft materials to design and build a robotic hand.

11. Build a Mini Trebuchet: Use craft sticks, rubber bands, and other craft materials to make and explore the physics behind a miniature trebuchet.

12. DIY Light Up Unicorn Headband: Make a unicorn horn headband with a paper circuit that lights an LED at the tip.

13. Build a Rubber Band-Powered Car: Build a car with an axle made from straws and rubber bands that store potential energy when wound.

14. Build a Popsicle Stick Catapult: Make a small catapult from craft sticks and rubber bands.

15. Duplicate Your Drawings with a Machine: Make and experiment with a pantograph, a device that can be used to make a larger or smaller copy of a drawing.

16. Make a Paper Circuit: Learn how to make simple circuits from paper, copper tape (or aluminum foil), and a battery. (See Paper Circuits Science Projects for additional ways to explore.)

17. Make a Cotton Ball Launcher: Use a recycled cardboard tube to make a launcher that can launch lightweight materials.

18. The Impossible Arrow Illusion: 3D print and explore the "impossible arrow" illusion - the arrow's reflection in a mirror always points the other way!

19. Make Your Own Harmonica!: Explore how a harmonica creates sound waves by making a small one from wooden sticks, rubber bands, and a straw.

20. DIY Mini Drone: Make a basic mini drone. (Add additional parts to explore a series of questions related to drone flight.)

21. Build a Balloon Car: Use a balloon to power a homemade toy car.

22. Study Kinetic Energy with a Rube Goldberg Machine: Use assorted materials to create a set of chain reactions in a machine designed to perform a simple task.

23. Build a Cardboard Scissor Lift: Use craft materials to make a scissor lift and explore simple machines.

24. Junkbots: Robots from Recycled Materials: Design and build simple robots made from recycled and craft materials.

25. Build a Paper Speaker: Make a working speaker from paper and neodymium magnets.

26. Make a Night-Light: Build a working night-light with an intermediate circuit project and design the custom housing, too!

Makerspace Learning in Action

The following STEM videos demonstrate some of the highlighted activities:

Ready for More Makerspace Ideas?

See 16 Next-Level Makerspace STEM Projects for projects and activities to help scale your makerspace for students ready for additional challenge.

You Might Also Enjoy These Related Posts:

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26 Projects to Jump-start Your Makerspace | Science Buddies Blog

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26 engaging hands-on STEM activities that use recylced and craft materials for a home, library, or classroom makerspace

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Get access to thousands of resources .

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Come Find Your Card at the Library

Apply for a Library Card Online!

Live in Hartford but don't have a library card? Register with us today! You will be able to checkout our e-resources within 24 hours.

This step-by-step guide will take you through the simple process of getting a card, opening you to a world of free books, movies, and music.

When we re-open, please come to the Library to check out our print and media collections and enjoy our programs!

Click here to apply.

Applying for a Library Card - Adults

Having a Hartford Public Library card is an important tool. You can apply for a library card at any Library location or online. When applying online, look for the Log In link above the Hartford Public Library logo:

After clicking that link, find the Register Here link on the pop-up window.

With your library card you will be able to:

Borrow books, audio-books, CD's, videos and DVD's at the Downtown Library and at all 6 branches.

Gain full access to the Library's e-Resources and other web services.

Renew items and check the status of your library account online.

Gain access to the collections and services of every public library in Connecticut.

Am I eligible for a Library card?

If you live, attend school or pay property taxes in Hartford you are eligible to receive a Hartford Public Library card free of charge. You must be age 14 or older to receive a full service card.

What will I need to apply for a Library card?

When applying for a Library card in person, you must show proof that you live, work, attend school or pay property taxes in Hartford.

Only one form of identification is necessary if it is one of these current and unexpired forms of identification:

Connecticut driver's license

State of Connecticut ID card

If the identification types listed above are not available, you may provide any two of the following forms of identification - one must have a photo and the other your current address:

Valid passport

Check cashing courtesy card

School ID card with photo

Employee ID with photo

Green Card

Current month utility bill

Mail postmarked within the past 30 days

Printed personal check

Lease or rent receipt (within past 60 days)

Tax bill or receipt

Valid car registration or car insurance

PLEASE NOTE: Any rent receipts or statements from a homeless shelter used for verification of your identity must be dated no more than two months prior to your application.

Without a photo ID you are not eligible for a full service library card. If you have a photo ID but cannot verify your address, we can send a postcard for proof of address to your home/residence. When you receive the postcard, bring it back to the Library with your photo ID and we will issue you a new card.

Applying for a Library Card - Youth

For youth under the age of 15 to receive a library card, a parent or guardian must sign the application form attesting to the validity of the information and accepting responsibility for materials borrowed on the card.

A youth application form must be signed by a parent or guardian. If a parent/guardian is not present, the library card application must be taken home for completion and signature.

Parents/guardians are responsible for the lost or damaged materials borrowed by their children.

Although parents or guardians may register their children for library cards without the children being present, the Library recommends that parents and guardians bring their children to the Library to participate in this important event in the lives of their children.

PLEASE NOTE: As protection against identity theft and to facilitate the renewal process, the Library will include your photo in your confidential record. If you provide us with your e-mail address, the Library will keep you updated with the latest information on Library programs and services, special events, announcements and other note-worthy news.

You can apply for a Hartford Public Library card at any Library location or online. When applying online, look for the Log In link above the Hartford Public Library logo:

After clicking that link, find the Register link on the pop-up window.

PLEASE NOTE: When you apply for a card online you will be issued a temporary e-Card. This card will give you immediate access to the Library's online resources only. To borrow books and other materials with your new card, you must complete the process by bringing photo identification and proof of residency to any Hartford Public Library location. You will receive a full service card at that time.

E-Cards

If you are unable to provide photo ID or verify your address, you can receive an e-Card that provides access to the Internet and the Library's online resources. You can apply for an e-Card at any Library location or online. Without a full-service card, however, you will not be able to borrow books or other materials. The E-Card must be renewed every two years.

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Get a Library Card | Hartford Public Library

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Apply for a Library Card Online! Live in Hartford but don't have a library card? Register with us today! You will be able to checkout our e-resources within 24 hours. This step-by-step guide will take you through the simple process of getting a card, opening you to a world of free books, movies, and music.

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If you are a Manchester resident , you can now register online to access online books and resources.

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Manchester is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 58,241. The urban center of the town is the Manchester census-designated place, with a population of 30,577 at the 2010 census.

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Create your own paper owls | Wizarding World

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Create your own paper owls | Wizarding World

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needs Eeylops Owl Emporium when you can make your very own feathery friends with this crafting video tutorial ...

Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown or Snowy - why choose when you can make them all with this hoot of a crafting video!

Harry's owl, Hedwig, kept him company throughout his time at Hogwarts, and was also his only friendly companion whilst he spent long summer holidays with the Dursleys.

Now you can learn to make your very own owl. Watch the video below and find out how ...

For more of our arts and crafts videos, check out our Crafting Magic page, as well as our Wizarding World YouTube channel.

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Create your own paper owls | Wizarding World

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needs Eeylops Owl Emporium when you can make your very own feathery friends with this crafting video tutorial ... Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown or Snowy - why choose when you can make them all with this hoot of a crafting video!

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Get a Library Card

Click here to register for a Bloomfield Public Library card online!

(Bloomfield residents only)

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BPL is offering services to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Call for curbside delivery and reference services, Mon-Fri 11am-6pm

24/7 online library is always open - read, watch, listen, research!

Book donations are not being accepted at this time

Check back frequently! We are continuously updating our resources.

Even though the library building is closed, that doesn't mean we need to stop having our Teen Anime Club meet-ups...at least virtually! Let's try out a ZOOM group watch party! Read more >

Posted in Library Announcements, Teen News

Including food distribution, local assistance, messages from town officials, and coronavirus updates. Read more >

Posted in Library Announcements, McMahon Wintonbury News

Even though the public cannot come into our physical library building at this time, our staff are working around the clock to bring exciting, fun, and educational connections to families through our "third location" (The Digital Library). We have compiled a list of terrific web sites that include virtual field trips, online storytimes, history and science resources, and more! And all sites are free for you to access! [bplct.org/read-explore-learn/] Read more >

Posted in Children News, Library Announcements

Get ready to experience the Sorcerer's Stone like never before...
Over the coming weeks, you'll get to watch videos of famous fans and friends of the Wizarding World, including Stephen Fry, David Beckham, plus many more, reading the 17 chapters of the first Harry Potter book from their homes. Who better to get things started than the incredible Daniel Radcliffe reading Chapter One: 'The Boy Who Lived'. Get comfy and settle in - it's time to join Harry on his first adventure. Read more >

Posted in Children News, Library Announcements, Families

Visit the library's Health Resources page for the latest information on Coronoavirus (COVID-19), including travel information and how to talk to children about the virus. Read more >

Posted in Adult News, Children News, Library Announcements, McMahon Wintonbury News

Even though the library building is closed, that doesn't mean we need to stop having our Teen Anime Club meet-ups...at least virtually! Let's try out a ZOOM group watch party! Read more >

Posted in Library Announcements, Teen News

Including food distribution, local assistance, messages from town officials, and coronavirus updates. Read more >

Posted in Library Announcements, McMahon Wintonbury News

Even though the public cannot come into our physical library building at this time, our staff are working around the clock to bring exciting, fun, and educational connections to families through our "third location" (The Digital Library). We have compiled a list of terrific web sites that include virtual field trips, online storytimes, history and science resources, and more! And all sites are free for you to access! [bplct.org/read-explore-learn/] Read more >

Posted in Children News, Library Announcements

Get ready to experience the Sorcerer's Stone like never before...
Over the coming weeks, you'll get to watch videos of famous fans and friends of the Wizarding World, including Stephen Fry, David Beckham, plus many more, reading the 17 chapters of the first Harry Potter book from their homes. Who better to get things started than the incredible Daniel Radcliffe reading Chapter One: 'The Boy Who Lived'. Get comfy and settle in - it's time to join Harry on his first adventure. Read more >

Posted in Children News, Library Announcements, Families

Visit the library's Health Resources page for the latest information on Coronoavirus (COVID-19), including travel information and how to talk to children about the virus. Read more >

Posted in Adult News, Children News, Library Announcements, McMahon Wintonbury News

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Prosser Public Library - McMahon Wintonbury - Bloomfield CT

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BPL is offering services to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Call for curbside delivery and reference services, Mon-Fri 11am-6pm 24/7 online library is always open - read, watch, listen, research! Book donations are not being accepted at this time Check back frequently! We are continuously updating our resources.

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zinelibraries.infosharing zine library love and expertise

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zinelibraries.infosharing zine library love and expertise

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So, what is a zine?? There's no official definition, but most will agree it's a self-published work that has a limited print run (which can range from ten copies to around 5,000 copies). Zines are usually created with the intention not to profit monetarily but to share one's thoughts, feelings, creativity, experience, and/or knowledge with others. Zines are part of a DIY (do it yourself) culture which often includes people from marginalized communities or those who don't have access to more mainstream publishing options.
Intro to zines workshops, books, and other resources:
Our most recommended go-to guide for all things zine is Alex Wrekk's Stolen Sharpie Revolution. Now in its fifth edition, it's an essential resource for the nitty-gritty of how to make a great-looking zine, where to find zines, zine history, and lots more.

by Davida Gypsy Breier

MetaZine: The History and a How-To of Zines presentation from Davida Gypsy Breier

History of Zines presentation by Rachael Kaun for Aunty Mabel's Zine Distro
Whatâ€™s So Great About Zines? List
Whatcha mean, what's a zine? : the art of making zines and minicomics book by Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson
Zine-makingÂ resources:Â
There are lots of information online about how to make a zine, but here are some of our favorites:

Guides for making single-page mini zines:

Anne Elizabeth Moore's "How to Make This Very Zine" is a single-page eight-fold set of instructions for making a single-page zine yourself. It is available in eight languages: Arabic, English, Greek, German, Georgian, Khmer, Russian and Spanish. Find the link to download all eight versions at Moore's website.

Jenna Brager's quick guide to making a one-page mini zine is available at the Sassyfrass Circus blog.

Zinester Celia PÃ©rez created a kid-friendly guide to creating a one-page mini zine for Brightly.

The Experiment With Nature project out of Oregon has a very detailed photo guide to making a one-page mini zine.

To get a little fancier with your mini zine, this photo tutorial from Anatomic Air Press is for creating a 16-page zine out of one piece of paper.

More information on creating zines:

Find adorably illustrated zine-making guides in both English and Spanish by Puerto Rican artist Rosa ColÃ³n Guerra at her Soda Pop Comics shop (and chip a few dollars to help her continue her work!).

An activist design studio, thepublicstudio.ca, put together a 17-page pdf zine on how to make a zine for further information. This tutorial goes beyond the single-sheet zine and discusses design aspects.

how to make a zine video from nicki sabalu on Vimeo

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So, what is a zine?? There's no official definition, but most will agree it's a self-published work that has a limited print run (which can range from ten copies to around 5,000 copies). Zines are usually created with the intention not to profit monetarily but to share one's thoughts, feelings, creativity, experience, and/or knowledge with others.

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Get access to all online resources!

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Book Résumés help teachers, librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship. They detail each title’s significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members.

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Book Résumés help teachers, librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship. They detail each title's significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members.

Bookmark this page! Thousands of library books face censorship, so new book résumés are added on a regular basis.

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A new free resource to support librarians, educators, parents, students, and other community advocates in their efforts to keep frequently challenged books on shelves.

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The Fable Cottage: Bilingual stories for language learners

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The Fable Cottage: Bilingual stories for language learners

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The Fable Cottage: Bilingual stories for language learners

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Fairy tales and fables in Spanish, French, Italian, German and English. Lovingly crafted stories especially for children and adults learning a second language. Great for classroom and home study.

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Get a Library Card - Bristol Public Library

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In order to obtain a Bristol Library card, you MUST have one of the following forms of identification that has your CURRENT Bristol address. Adult Bristol Residents (18 years or older) Connecticut Driver’s License with current Bristol address Automobile Registration Utility Bill (no older than one month) Lease Agreement State of CT Identification Card (looks […]

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Select: Academy of Computer Science and Engineering - Middle School Students can log into our catalog and access eBooks and other features. Same login as computer login- No crec.org needed. Please email Ms. Santos with any questions.

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Welcome to Capitol Region Education Council

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If you have a great Nutmeg resource please send it to us, we’d love to share!

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If you want your child to read more, a tried and true strategy is to get them hooked on a great series. This can lead to endless hours of binge-reading and page-turning joy. The only downside of this strategy is the inevitable begging and pleading for a trip to the library or bookstore that happens when they finish a book and must get the next installment RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

Here are 10 series ranging from fantasy to realistic to mystery that are highly bingeable according to young readers on Bookopolis.com, a social network and book discovery tool made especially for 7- to 13-year-old readers.
Please note: retail buttons will direct you to the first book in a series. Click on the title of the series to see more books. In your experience, what series are impossible for middle grade readers to put down? Let us know in the comments below!

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10 Bingeable Series That Middle Grade Readers Love | Brightly

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If you want your child to read more, a tried and true strategy is to get them hooked on a great series. This can lead to endless hours of binge-reading and page-turning joy.

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Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

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About the Teens’ Top Ten I TTT Winners I Previous Winners I Promoting the TTT I About YA Galley YALSA has launched the Teen Book Finder Database, which is a one-stop shop for finding selected lists and award winners. Users can search this free resource by award, list name, year, author, genre and mo…

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Common Sense Media editors help you choose Award-Winning Books for Teens. Find great reads that have won the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award.

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Maker Share | Create. Connect. Learn. | By Make: + Intel

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Where Makers come to show & tell what they can do. Create your Maker Portfolio and share your projects, participate in community missions, and learn new skills.

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researchIT CT Newsstream Chicago Tribune (1985-present) Hartford Courant (1992-present) Los Angeles Times (1985-present) Newspaper Source Plus New York Times (1985-present) U.S. Major Dailies (1980-present) Wall Street Journal (1984-present) Washington Post (1987-present)

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emmy® Award-winning children’s literacy program, Storyline Online®, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Connie Britton, Terry Crews, Viola Davis, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Garner, John Lithgow, Chris Pine, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey and dozens more.

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

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Reading, the Road to Success Infographic