Summer Reading Starts June 8th!

The Summer Reading program runs June 8th through August 10th. 

Events

The Newburyport Public Library is offering tons of fun events for summer! Check out our events calendar for details, and join us on Saturday, June 8, 2024 for our kickoff event with a petting zoo on the front lawn!

KIDS (Ages 0-12)

Download the Beanstack app or visit: newburyportpl.beanstack.org to create an account. If you used Beanstack last year, you should still have an account. If you want to log reading for multiple kids at the same time, we recommend using the app instead of a web browser.

  • Mark off each day you spend time reading (or listening, or being read to) this summer.
  • Every time you log ten days (consecutive or non-consecutive!), you get to pick a prize from the Library’s prize bucket.
  • As you log days, you’ll also earn virtual raffle tickets. Use these raffle tickets to enter for a grand prize bag! We’ll pull winners at the end of the summer.

Grand prizes this year include Walkie Talkies, Glow in the Dark Magnatiles, and more!


TWEENS & TEENS (Ages 12-18)

Download the Beanstack app or visit: newburyportpl.beanstack.org to create an account. If you used Beanstack last year, you should still have an account.

Log the minutes you read to earn badges and tickets.

What can you read? Anything! Just track the time you spend reading (or listening). Tracking your reading time or achieving activity badges earns you tickets, which you can then use to win prizes. And yes, you can use your summer reading book for school to earn tickets.

We will have two drawings this summer. Some of the prizes will change between the two drawings, but you’ll be able to enter for the grand prizes all summer long. Grand prizes will be drawn on the last day.

This year’s prizes include gift cards to Jen Ju Boba, Lexie’s, a Bluetooth projector, themed mystery bags, books, and more!


ADULTS

Come play BINGO with us and track your reading progress for a chance to win a $30 gift card to Jabberwocky!

Use the online form (linked below) to view the BINGO card and submit what you’ve read. Each submission will enter you into the raffle (even if you don’t hit BINGO). You can only submit one book per category.

Attending any program hosted by the Newburyport Public Library will also enter you into the raffle! Submit your attendance via the online form. 

You can enter your submissions at any point during the Summer Reading challenge. Three lucky winners will each win a $30 gift certificate to Jabberwocky and all winners will be drawn after the conclusion of the program. Please note, participants can only win once.

If you have any questions or would like a physical copy of the BINGO card, please speak with a reference librarian on the second floor.

View the BINGO card and submit your reading progress HERE!

Prizes are funded by the Friends of the Newburyport Public Library.

Spanish Conversation Group

Join our new in-person Spanish conversation group for adults! 

All levels are welcome! However, it may be best suited for beginner and intermediate level speakers. Please note, this is not a class, but it is a great way to practice your Spanish conversational skills and connect with others who have an interest in the language. The group is led by a Spanish-speaking librarian and will meet every other Thursday at 5:30 PM for 45 minutes. Starts April 11th!

Registration is highly requested as space is limited to 6 attendees in the Library’s Director’s Room. Visit the Events calendar for dates.

Please contact the reference desk if you have any questions!

Come Chat With Us!

The Newburyport Public Library is proud to partner with Newburyport Youth Services to talk about all things parenting!

Join us for two moderated discussions of “Long Days, Short Years: A Cultural History of Modern Parenting,” by Andrew Bomback. We hope to engage in multigenerational discussions about parenting, how it has changed, and what today and tomorrow look like. 

Utilize current literature as a way of exploring parenting ideas and experiences through engaging community conversations! We can learn so much from books, but we learn so much more from each other, and hope this community read will spark some great discussions.

Parents and caregivers will have two opportunities to chat with other members of our community in May. Our first discussion will take place on Monday, May 8th from 6-7:30 PM. The second discussion will take place on Wednesday, May 10th from 6-7:30 PM. Both discussions will take place in our Program Room and no registration will be required.

Movie Fun For Families

The library is so pleased to offer two new movie experiences for our patrons in April.

On Monday April 3rd & April 24th, from 2:30-4:30, we will be hosting the Sensory Friendly Movie Matinee.

The room will be lighter, the volume will be lower, and audience members will be welcome to move around, talk, and sing or do anything they feel they need to do in order to be comfortable, unless the safety of the audience is in question.

On Monday April 10th, from 2:30-4:30, we will be hosting the Stroller Movie Matinee.

Stroller Matinees are a baby-friendly, judgment-free space for adults to enjoy films with babies who may otherwise be unwelcome in traditional movie theaters. The room will be lighter, the volume will be lower, and audience members are welcome to move around, talk to their babies, and bring their strollers or car seats inside.

Information about these unique movie viewing experiences, the movies we will be showing, and runtimes, visit our event calendar by clicking here.

Social Service Drop-in Support

The City’s licensed professional social worker Trish Boateng offers regular drop-in hours at the Newburyport Public for any Newburyport resident who may need assistance on behalf of the City of Newburyport. Consultations and referrals are confidential and free to all. Get connected with assistance for food, housing, transportation, health, child care, or other necessities.

Location: 3rd Floor Conference Room

Time: Tuesdays, 1:30-2:30 pm

Availability: First-come, first-served. Evening hours can be accommodated by appointment only.

See our event calendar for additional information.

The Library has groups!

Are you looking to connect with like-minded people over books or art? Ready to read something new or learn about a prolific artist? Then consider our collection of book and art groups!

The Newburyport Public Library is pleased to offer groups that meet monthly, virtually or in person, that cover a variety of interests.

Next Chapter: meets the first Wednesday of the month in person at the Senior Center.

Fiction book group: meets the second Thursday of the month virtually.

Just the Facts – nonfiction book group: meets the last Tuesday of the month virtually.

Circulo de Lectores – Spanish book group: meets every third Tuesday of the month virtually.

Art History Group: meets the second Tuesday of the month in person at the library.

To get more information on when and what time the groups meet, how to access them virtually, or what books/artists are being profiled for the month, check our our event calendar by clicking here.