The Braille Institute of America was selected by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled to host this year’s nine week literary and learning experience open to anyone, anywhere interested in participating.
The 2026 summer reading theme is “Unearth a Story” that emphasizes discovery with dinosaurs, nature and more. Programs are designed for kids — as well as adults — to encourage reading through fun activities.
Why is your participation in the Summer Reading Program (SRP) so important?
Books matter, plus there are going to be some audio narrated soundscapes of some awesome places! We hope you will join this SRP. Your support helps these organizations continue to provide great activities and programs.
Adult Programming & Activities
Inspired by Unearth a Story Summer Reading Theme, stories are everywhere, embedded in landscapes, preserved in archives, carried through families and reflected in individual lives.
To register go to: https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/summer-reading/
Here are the SRP activities:
- Tuesday, June 16, 4 p.m. eastern time: Author Event: Best-selling author Peter Heller discusses his novel, The Dog Stars (DB75493) and The Orchard (DB134029), with public radio journalist Maeve Conran.
- Monday, June 22: Narrated Soundscape “walk-through” of Badlands National Park: Kathleen Slocum, Accessible Library Services Manager at South Dakota Accessible Library Services, released June 22.
- Tuesday, June 30, 4 p.m. eastern time: National Parks as Living Archives: Stories from New Mexico: National Park Service staff and partners explore the science, history, and culture embedded in Aztec Ruins National Monument, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and Valles Caldera National Preserve.
- Monday, July 6: Narrated Soundscape “walk-through” of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Matthew Brown, Managing Librarian at Hawaii State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, released on July 6.
- Tuesday, July 14, 4 p.m. eastern time: Author Event: Blind authors Leona Godin, There Plant Eyes (BR23825, DB104014), and Georgina Kleege, More Than Meets the Eye (BR22550, DB93533), explore nonfiction as excavation in conversation with Mike Marlin, Director of the Braille & Talking Book Library in Sacramento.
- Monday, July 20: Narrated Soundscape “walk-through” of Everglades National Park: Felicia Brown, Talking Book Librarian, and Jennifer Shipley, Library Operations Manager, Special Services at Miami-Dade Public Library System, released July 20.
- Tuesday, July 28, 4 p.m. eastern time: “Excavating a Life: Megan Marshall” Author Event: Pulitzer Prize winning biographer Megan Marshall will be in conversation with author Heather Clark about her memoir After Lives (DBC11807).
- Monday, August 3: Narrated Soundscape “walk-through” of Cape Cod National Seashore: Kim Charlson, Executive Director, and Andrea Everett, Children’s & Young Adult Services Librarian at Perkins Library, released August 3.
- Tuesday, August 11, 4 p.m. eastern time: Digging Up the Past: A Historical Fiction Panel with authors Sadeqa Johnson, Elizabeth Wein, and Jess Shaara. Author-led exploration of the research, craft and creative rewards of historical fiction.