Every summer, something remarkable happens across the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. Kids stay curious. Teens discover new passions. Adults carve out time to read for themselves. And communities gather around their libraries in ways that last long after the school bells ring again.
This summer, that something remarkable had a name: Summer Reading 2026.
From June 15 through August 15, the FVRL Foundation was proud to fund a district-wide program that reached every corner of our community. The numbers tell a story worth celebrating:
- 12,123 participants took on reading and community challenges this summer
- 1,450 programs were offered across the district, attended by 31,505 people
- 9,100 free books were given away — starting with one for every participant who signed up
- 2,330 free lunches were served to children and families
- 275 community events outside library walls brought FVRL staff — and library resources — directly to the people who need them most
Children ages 0–12 set goals to read for at least 40 days, tracking stories, graphic novels, and audiobooks along the way. Teens and adults took on reading and community challenges through the Beanstack platform, earning milestone rewards as they went. And everyone who walked through the door on day one left with something in their hands: a free book, just for showing up.
That last detail matters. Summer Reading isn’t just about building reading habits — though it does that too. It’s about making sure that every child, every teen, every adult in this district knows that the library is for them. That access to books, programs, and community doesn’t stop when school does.
The FVRL Foundation funds Summer Reading because we believe that’s exactly what making more possible looks like. A free book. A free lunch. A program that meets people where they are — inside the library and out.
That’s the investment. And every year, this community shows us it’s worth it.