Join Yolo County Library’s virtual Summer Reading Program, running from May 18 through August 28. Although all Yolo County Library branches are closed until further notice, children, teens and adults can celebrate this year’s theme, Dig Deeper: Read, Investigate, Discover, by logging their reading, earning prizes, and participating in special virtual programs and activities that will get everyone digging deeper.
Thanks to funding from the Yolo County Library Foundation, Summer Reading Program participants can register online using Beanstack, a web and mobile application that allows users to engage in reading challenges, log reading hours and books, earn badges and prizes, and discover great books. Participants read, log their reading and complete fun activities to earn points to win prizes. Everyone who completes their summer reading challenge by earning 1,000 points will receive a prize, plus an entry into a drawing for additional prizes. Participants can earn more drawing entries by doing additional reading or completing further activities before the program ends on August 28. Everyone who signs up for the Summer Reading Program will also receive a free book.
Yolo County Library is offering Read Off Your Fines for adults as part of the Summer Reading Program. Adults who complete the program can choose to have up to $10.00 in late fees removed from their account in place of their finisher prize.
This year’s theme, Dig Deeper: Read, Investigate, Discover, encourages participants to keep their minds sharp, broaden their horizons, and challenge themselves to dig deeper and go beyond their usual reading habits and explore new things. “This year, our program is designed to engage community members in reading and other fun summer learning activities while maintaining appropriate social distancing practices,” said County Librarian Mark Fink. “Participants of all ages will be able to enjoy a wide variety of free virtual activities including theater, science shows and storytelling events.”
Research indicates that summer reading programs help children and teens retain and enhance their reading skills over the summer, provide a haven for community readers, and develop reading enthusiasm. Additionally, adult participation encourages parents to play a strong role in their child’s literacy development by reading aloud with their child and modeling good reading behavior. As beloved writer and illustrator Tomie dePaola said, “Reading is important, because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.”
In summer of 2019, over 770,000 Californians signed up for public library summer reading programs and more than 1.77 million Californians attended summer reading events and activities. Yolo County Library joins libraries across the nation to encourage adults, youth and families to read over the summer. The Summer Reading Program is a project of the California Library Association and part of California’s statewide summer reading outcomes.
The Summer Reading Program is free and sponsored by the various Friends of the Library groups. For more information or to sign up, visit your local Yolo County Library branch or: www.yolocountylibrary.org/summer. Connect with Yolo County Library on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yolocountylibrary.org.
Yolo County Library Branches Closed
Until Further Notice
Las sucursales de la Biblioteca del Condado de Yolo están cerradas hasta nuevo aviso para leer este aviso en español haga clic aquí.
Call us at 530-666-8005, Monday – Friday from 9 am – 6 pm or email us.
Yolo County Library is taking the following measures to protect the health and safety of our community and staff in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic:
All Yolo County Library branches will be closed until further notice.
The Yolo County Archives and Records Center will remain closed until further notice.
Cancellation of all library programs, events, classes, and community meeting room use has been extended through May 31st.
We are asking patrons to hold onto library materials and wait to return items until libraries reopen.
During this time, due dates for borrowed materials will be automatically extended and no late fines will be assessed,
All library volunteer opportunities have been suspended until our branches reopen.
Library staff will be supporting a centralized phone line, 530-666-8005, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to assist patrons with their accounts and to access digital materials.
Our FAQ page has answers to frequently asked questions about library services and includes reliable information sources regarding COVID-19 in Yolo County.
Yolo County Library staff are curating resources for residents sheltering in place due to the Coronavirus pandemic at www.yolocountylibrary.org/resources/. See our Closure FAQ for information on library services and join us on Facebook and Instagram for daily updates, storytimes, and other activities. For information on Coronavirus and the local response, please see the Yolo County Coronavirus page and Dashboard. Wash your hands, take care of each other, and we’ll get through this difficult time together! Have a link we should add? Send it our way!
The health and safety of our community and staff is our highest priority. To protect our community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, all Yolo County Library branches are closed until further notice. View a growing list of shelter-in-place resources for Yolo County residents, curated by Library staff.
Where can I find reliable information about the Coronavirus / COVID-19?
Use these sites to find updated information about the Coronavirus and the response in Yolo County:
Yes, our WiFi will still be turned on and accessible outside our branch locations 24/7. The network is named PUBLIC and no library card is required to connect. If you choose to access library WiFi, be sure to follow social distancing guidelines. Library staff will not be available to answer questions or troubleshoot WiFi.
Even when library locations are closed, Yolo County Library offers a wide variety of services you can access 24/7 with your library card. Online resources are currently available to all cardholders without regard to fees.
Yolo County Pinterest includes book suggestions for young children 0 -5, kids’ books, kindness activities, books in a series, books you just can’t put down, teen reads, craft ideas, and more.
Library Materials
When will items be due?
Items will be automatically renewed until the library re-opens and all late fees will be waived. The library will continue to extend the renewals to ensure that materials are not overdue if they were not overdue when the library closed on March 16.
What will happen to my holds?
All hold pickup dates will be extended to at least 10 days after the library re-opens.
Can I return my library materials?
Please keep library materials for now. All book returns will be closed until the library reopens.
What about LINK+ ?
While LINK+ materials are unable to be automatically renewed or have their due dates extended, no late fees will be charged.
Please wait to return items until Yolo County Library reopens.
As of Tuesday, March 18, LINK+ services have been suspended until further notice. LINK+ is a consortium of many libraries, all of which are closed. Since LINK+ materials are from these other libraries, we cannot control the due date. The LINK+ consortium agreed to waive all fees during this unprecedented closure. If you requested a LINK+ item but did not get to pick it up, it will be held at the library until the library re-opens and you are contacted. Any fees will be waived.
Are ebook due dates affected by the library closure?
No, ebook due dates are not impacted by library closures.
Will Books by Mail still be operating during the library closure?
No. In order to protect the safety of our community, Books by Mail services are suspended while library locations are closed.
Can Read Around Yolo (R.A.Y.) bags be picked up during the library closure?
No. No materials are available while library locations are closed.
What if I don’t have a library card?
No library card? No problem! Yolo County residents can register for a Yolo County Library temporary eCard to access several digital services instantly at https://web-iii.yolocounty.org/selfreg. Alternatively, OverDrive also allows Yolo County residents to register for a temporary card and borrow digital items using a mobile phone number.
Online cards will not expire during this closure period.
If your library card is about to expire or has expired, you will still be able to use all library services.
I still have a question about my account. Is there anyone who can help me?
Library staff will be supporting a centralized phone line, 530-666-8005, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to assist patrons with their accounts and to access digital materials.
Can volunteers provide service at the library during the closure?
No. All volunteer opportunities are suspended while library locations are closed.
Will Yolo Reads tutoring be continuing during the library closure?
No. Yolo Reads tutoring is suspended while library locations are closed.
See our Digital Events schedule for more events happening online!
National Emergency Library a collection of over a million books that supports emergency remote teaching, research, and independent learning. Access is free, all that is needed is to sign in and create an account.
