CLOSED FRIDAY, MAY 22 - MONDAY, MAY 25 FOR SYSTEM TRANSITIONS, NEW FURNITURE, AND MEMORIAL DAY  

Reading Challenges

 

 

Clinton Reading Challenge

May 25 - August 31, 2026

Join us as we compete against other Clinton libraries in a summer reading challenge! We’ll take on readers from the Kirkland Town Library in Clinton, New York; the North County Branch Library in Clinton, New Jersey; the Clinton County Libraries in Pennsylvania; the Bigelow Free Library in Clinton, Massachusetts; the Clinton Public Library in Clinton, Indiana; and the Quisenberry Library in Clinton, Mississippi to see who can read the most this summer.
All you have to do is keep track of your reading. You can read books, magazines, or newspapers, listen to an audiobook, or anything you can borrow from the library. It counts! Readers ages 18 and up can participate.



IMPORTANT CHANGES

If you've participated in the past, please note two important changes to the program:

First, the summer is divided into six rounds, giving you more time to track your reading and submit your time. You'll see the dates of each round below. We'll update the current standings after each round is completed, not weekly.

**Second, you cannot wait until the end of the summer to submit your time.** Instead, you'll have until the end of each month. You must submit time from rounds one and two by June 30. After that, we cannot count it towards the challenge. Likewise, you have until July 31 to submit any time you've read from July 1 through July 31 (rounds three and four) and until Sept. 2 to submit any time you've read from August 1 through August 31 (rounds five and six).


ROUND TIMELINE

Six times this summer, you’ll report on the number of hours or pages you’ve read. (One page is equal to one minute.) We'll tally the hours and see how we stack up against the competition.

Round 1: Monday, May 25 – Monday, June 15 
Submit your time by Wednesday, June 17th to be included in the Round 1 update. 
 
Round 2: Tuesday, June 16 – Tuesday, June 30 
Submit your time by end of day Tuesday, June 30th. 
 
**Tuesday, June 30th is the final day to submit any reading time from Rounds 1 and 2 (May 25 – June 30).** 
 
Round 3: Wednesday, July 1 – Wednesday, July 15 
Submit your time by Friday, July 17th to be included in the Round 3 update. 
 
Round 4: Thursday, July 16 – Friday, July 31 
Submit your time by end of day Friday, July 31st. 
 
**Friday, July 31st is the final day to submit any reading time from Rounds 3 and 4 (July 1 – July 31).** 
 
Round 5: Saturday, Aug 1 – Friday, Aug 15 
Submit your time by Tuesday, August 18th to be included in the Round 5 update. 
 
Round 6: Saturday, Aug 16 – Monday, August 31 
Submit your time by end of day Monday, August 31st. 
 
**Monday, August 31st is the final day to submit any reading time from Rounds 5 and 6 (August 1 – August 31).** 

Results will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 2nd. 


!! IMPORTANT SUBMISSION DEADLINES !! 

Tuesday, June 30th: Final day to submit any reading time from Rounds 1 and 2 (May 25 – June 30). 
Friday, July 31st: Final day to submit any reading time from Rounds 3 and 4 (July 1 – July 31). 
Monday, August 31st: Final day to submit any reading time from Rounds 5 and 6 (August 1 – August 31).


LOG YOUR READING TIME

We’re encouraging all participants to pick up a physical reading log at the main desk to track their time, even if they don’t plan to turn in their time by visiting the library in person. Using a log will help folks remember when to submit their time and understand how the rounds are divided.

When you're ready to submit your time, you can ...
Turn in your physical reading log at the main desk
Submit your time by filling out a Google Form (The form link will appear at the top of this webpage on Tuesday, May 26th for easy access.) 
Email Sarah directly at sjamison@clintonpubliclibrary.us
Log it on the Beanstack app


PRIZES

Read and get rewarded! Turn in your reading time by each round deadline to be entered into a raffle!
One winner per round will receive $20 in River City Gold
You can win once during the challenge


Round deadlines:
Round 1: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 16
Round 2: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 
Round 3: 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 16 
Round 4: 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 30
Round 5: 11:59 p.m. Monday, August 17 
Round 6: 11:59 p.m. Monday, August 31 


GRAND PRIZE DRAWING

Every raffle entry you earn will also go into a grand prize drawing at the end of the challenge.
Grand prize includes:

  • $10 gift cards to: Deanna’s, Brent’s Firehouse Coffee, 392 Caffè, Current Coffee Co., and Moxi on Main ($50 total)
  • $100 Barnes & Noble gift card to purchase books for the library's collection
  • Create a book display at the library featuring your selected books
  • Clinton Public Library merchandise
  • Trophies & Pins

Turn in your reading time for every round to earn a special trophy or pin!



HELP! I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS
It's ok! We're here to help.
Call the library at (563) 242-8441 and ask for Kate or Sarah.
Email Sarah directly at sjamison@clintonpubliclibrary.us. 

Challenge History

The fun began back in 2021 when a librarian from Clinton, New York, challenged the patrons of her childhood library in Clinton, New Jersey, to see who could read the most. At the end of that first summer, New York prevailed with 2,492 hours.

Over the years, other Clinton libraries have excitedly joined the competition, with their patrons reading more than 250,000 hours in five summers. Librarians love the program because it encourages their patrons to read and the public loves the competitive aspect, eagerly checking the weekly results to see if their state is in the lead.

The trophy has been won by New York two times, twice by Iowa, and once by New Jersey, and there’s no telling who will take it home in the future. With more than 40 different towns named Clinton in the United States and Canada, the competition will keep growing year after year.