Summer at the Library

Welcome to Wallywood! We invite you to embark on an adventure full of movies, monsters, and magic. You’ll have the chance to win fabulous prizes by completing challenges in this commemorative scrapbook, where, starting on June 30th and continuing through August 23rd, you will keep track of your progress one task at a time. We will provide “Wallywood” stickers that you can use to mark your completed tasks! (Special stickers will be distributed separately at events to mark attendance.)

There are five series of challenges: Wallywood, Events, Community, Reading, and Library Card. Each series includes four challenges. Every time you complete a challenge, you will earn a ticket into our summer prize drawing. For every four challenges you complete, you will earn one of our limited-edition Wallywood swag items!

Complete as many challenges as you want. The four lucky winners of the summer prize drawing will each receive a $50 gift card to the local business of their choice! Please either turn in your scrapbook to our main desk or mail it to the library by Saturday, August 23rd. We will announce the results of the prize drawing on Friday, August 29th and the four winners will be contacted individually. You are welcome to reach out to Rachel Taylor, Head of Adult Programming, at rtaylor@wallingfordlibrary.org with any questions. Lights, camera, action! 

The Reel Details:

Log reading and complete challenges for a chance to earn prizes!

To complete this program, you’ll need to read 720 minutes this summer- just 15 minutes a day! For every 60 minutes you read, you’ll earn one prize entry. Completing the program will give you a bonus entry giving you a total of 13 possible entries for reading. You may also write a short review for a bonus entry when you complete a book, up to a maximum of 10 books.

If you finish early, keep going! By reading 1,200 minutes before the program officially ends on August 16th, you will be entered into the Grand Prize drawing- a $100 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. You will continue to accrue prize entries for each additional hour you read.

You can read physical books, audiobooks, e-books, manga, graphic novels, and even fan fiction! It all counts.

For added fun, there will be themed reading & creative activities to complete that will earn extra prize entries. And don’t forget to check out the teen program calendar to check out all of the events we have planned for the summer!

Participation Guidelines:

• Reel Reads is open to all entering grades 6-12 in the fall
• Create a program account on Beanstack or download the Beanstack app
• Log your reading and activities using Beanstack from June 30^th-August 16^th
   

Our summer maker contest Some Assembly Required is back for its 6th year—and this time, we're rolling out the red carpet for Wallywood! Middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults are all invited to show off their creativity in the following categories: Art,  DIY, Photography, Textile Arts, Upcycling, and Videography. Since 2025 is the Red Carpet Summer, we’re giving special attention to the Videography category—with an increased $50 prize for the top video! Winners in all other categories will receive a $25 gift card to the Wallingford business of your choice. The best overall entry will take home a $100 gift card.

 Submissions open: June 30th – July 26th
 Voting runs: August 4th – August 16th
 Winners announced: August 18th

Ready to create your masterpiece? Visit the Some Assembly Required page for full details. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Registration will begin on May 28th. 

To register, create a program account on Beanstack or download the Beanstack app.

You may begin logging books on June 13th. The last day to log minutes, complete missions, and submit prize drawings is August 16th. Please ask at the children’s desk if you have any questions or have trouble setting up your account.

For students entering grades K-6:

• This summer, we are inviting all of our VIPs, (Very Important Patrons) to step into the glamorous world of reading! After registering for the program on Beanstack, stop by the Production Office to collect your VIP All Access Card. Collect stamps by logging minutes read, completing missions, and attending one of our fabulous programs! When you have 8 stamps on your card, turn it in for a star to add to our “Wall of Fame.”
• To complete the program and earn a FREE book from the Wallingford Public Library’s Book Seller, you need to read 600 minutes this summer.
• Readers who keep going and log 1200 minutes will be entered into our drawing for a chance to win one of our Grand Prizes. Along the way, you will also earn tokens for our prize machine and stamps for your VIP All Access Card.
• For added fun, beginning Monday, June 30th, there will be missions to complete here in the VIP section of the library. Complete all of the missions to get another token for the prize vending machine. 

Family Read Together Program for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers:

• Spend time reading as a family!  For every 10 books your family reads together, you will earn a star to add to our Wallywood Night Sky, and once you get to 60 books read, you will be entered into a drawing for a gift basket. You may read the same book more than once- we know that’s how many preschoolers enjoy their favorite books.
• For added fun, for every 10 books you read (up to 60 books), stop by the library for a special scavenger hunt. Search around the tree for hidden pictures and earn a sticker for finding them all!

NOTE: Children entering Kindergarten and First Grade can participate in either program.