The Allen County Public Library is thrilled to announce the return of its annual Summer Learning Program, running from June 1 to July 31, 2025.
Allen County Public Library news release:
ACPL Announces the 2025 Summer Learning Program “Color Our World”
Fort Wayne, Indiana (May 21, 2025) – The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is thrilled to announce the return of its annual Summer Learning Program, running from June 1 to July 31. Designed to keep learners of all ages engaged and inspired throughout the summer, this initiative invites the community to celebrate the power of reading, exploration, and creativity.
This year’s theme, “Color Our World,” encourages participants to embark on exciting journeys through books and hands-on activities that celebrate art, creativity, and the myriad ways in which art enriches our lives.
Participants can track their reading and activities through the Beanstack app or by picking up a printed tracking sheet at any ACPL branch. The program offers a variety of challenges and activities tailored to children, teens, and adults—with opportunities to earn fun prizes throughout the summer.
“Our library’s summer learning program is more than a seasonal tradition — it’s an anchor for curious minds of all ages,” said Jacki Fulwood, Youth Services Manager at ACPL. “We aim to keep learners engaged over the summer while also nurturing a love of reading. That engagement is a powerful force for growth, expression, and imagination while school is out.”
The Summer Learning Program supports families in keeping kids engaged during the academic break. According to the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) Students can lose up to two months of math and reading skills without educational engagement during summer break. However, research shows that students who participate in public library summer reading programs start the school year ready to learn, have improved reading achievement, and perceive reading as important.
The ACPL Summer Learning Program includes a variety of efforts including:
- Reading incentives: participants are encouraged to track their reading/learning and come into the Library to pick up free books and prizes at 15, 30, and 45-day milestones. In 2024, more than 17,000 patrons participated.
- Team Read: Team Read teenagers meet weekly with enrolled youth at community centers and local parks to inspire a love of reading and act as mentors. Team Readers play games, read, and provide free books for the children to take home.
- Library Programs: Hundreds of events will welcome the community to the library for arts/crafts, STEM exploration, and more! In 2024, more than 30,000 participants took advantage of library-sponsored programs.
- Community Outreach: Library staff will participate in community activities, festivals, and resource fairs to reach new audiences or further engage with existing patrons.
- Summer Feeding Programs: Through partnerships with Fort Wayne Community Schools and Blessings in a Backpack, the Library will distribute tens of thousands of free meals to local youth at 8 library locations: Main Library, Georgetown, Hessen Cassel, Little Turtle, Pontiac, Shawnee, Tecumseh, and Waynedale. Any child under 18 can participate.
All Summer Learning Program activities are free and open to the public. For more information, visit https://www.acpl.lib.in.us/readingprograms or stop by any ACPL location.
The 2025 program is made possible through the generous support of the Foellinger Foundation, the Friends of the Allen County Public Library, and the Allen County Public Library Foundation.
About the Allen County Public Library
The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has fostered lifelong learning and discovery in northeast Indiana for more than 135 years. The ACPL consists of fourteen branches throughout Allen County, serving more than one million visitors per year. The ACPL’s collection includes more than 3.9 million items, with a circulation total of 4.6 million items borrowed annually. It also houses The Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest public genealogy research center, and The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, consisting of more than 30,000 artifacts related to President Abraham Lincoln.
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