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SUMMERQUEST 2024

SummerQuest is a reading incentive program offered annually at each of our branches.

Sign up for our Summer Reading Challenge below using the Beanstack app or drop by any Alexandria Library to sign up and receive a paper log.

The program runs from June 1 through August 31.

Adventure Begins

Adventure Begins Early Lit

Sign up for SummerQuest, Jr.

Birth through rising Kindergarten

SummerQuest, Jr. allows children to earn points towards a free book!  Points are earned by logging books they read or books that are read to them.  Children can also earn points by doing early literacy activities. Read enough books and you can earn Washington Nationals tickets!

Adventure Begins child

Sign up for SummerQuest

Rising 1st-5th Grades

SummerQuest participants will log the minutes they spend reading this summer!  Every 20 minutes spent reading earns 1 point.  Use those points and points earned doing other activities to collect a free book! Read enough books and you can earn Washington Nationals tickets!

Adventure Begins Teen

Sign up for SummerQuest Teens

Rising 6th-12th Grades

SummerQuest teens will also log the minutes they spend reading this summer!  Every 20 minutes spent reading earns 1 point.  Participating in other activities will earn more points.  Use these points to collect a free book! Read enough books to earn Washington Nationals tickets, plus an entry for a gift card drawing.

Adventure Begins adult

Sign up for SummerQuest Adults

Ages 18 and up

Don't let the kids have all of the fun! Join in for a chance to win a prize. Read enough books to earn Washington Nationals tickets, plus each book read (up to 10) will be an entry for a gift card drawing.  Read or listen!

Youth SummerQuest Events
Calligraphy Workshop
Thu, Jun 05, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Are you curious about learning in calligraphy?Join us to learn and practice different styles each session at Burke!
Coding Game Night - ages 6-12 - Hands-on fun in programming, robotics, and electronics!
Thu, Jun 05, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.
Jewelry Frenzy!
Thu, Jun 12, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us to make beaded necklaces or bracelets you can bring home with you. Supplies will be provided. Ages 6-13.
Coding Game Night - ages 6-12 - Hands-on fun in programming, robotics, and electronics!
Thu, Jun 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.
Squeals on Wheels: Petting Zoo
Wed, Jun 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Squeals on Wheels presents their Buddy Petting Zoo! This petting zoo has a variety of small animals ranging from bunnies, guinea pigs, feathery friends, and exotic seasonal friends.
Calligraphy Workshop
Thu, Jun 19, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Are you curious about learning in calligraphy?Join us to learn and practice different styles each session at Burke!
Coding Game Night - ages 6-12 - Hands-on fun in programming, robotics, and electronics!
Thu, Jun 19, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.
Colorful Seed Balls - Make and Share for Teens
Fri, Jun 20, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
Come make colorful seed dumplings or seed balls to help pollinators in Northern Virginia. Take a few and leave a few for others to spread. For ages 12-18.
LGBTQ+ Pride Galaxy Paint Night - Paint your galaxy!
Mon, Jun 23, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Second Floor
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month by painting a galaxy using the colors of the Pride flag!
Build Your Own Birdhouse!
Wed, Jun 25, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Want to see the birds flying around this summer? Join us at the library to build and paint your very own birdhouse!
Jewelry Frenzy!
Thu, Jun 26, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us to make beaded necklaces or bracelets you can bring home with you. Supplies will be provided. Ages 6-13.
T(w)een STEM Hour
Thu, Jun 26, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Second Floor
Let's go on a STEM adventure with a new science experiment every month!
Coding Game Night - ages 6-12 - Hands-on fun in programming, robotics, and electronics!
Thu, Jun 26, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.
Field Guide to Your Life Kits
Tue, Jul 01, All day
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
Create a field guide to express the uniqueness of your life and experiences. Kits and guidelines can be picked up beginning July 1 throughout the month while supplies last.
Science Heroes - Adventure of the Missing Color
Wed, Jul 02, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
"Adventure of the Missing Color" is a science-themed mystery show where a color has disappeared, and the audience must use scientific principles and experiments to find the missing color.
Calligraphy Workshop
Thu, Jul 03, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Are you curious about learning in calligraphy?Join us to learn and practice different styles each session at Burke!
Coding Game Night - ages 6-12 - Hands-on fun in programming, robotics, and electronics!
Thu, Jul 03, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.
Foam Party!
Wed, Jul 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Get ready to dance, laugh, and let loose as you’re surrounded by cascades of fluffy foam!
Jewelry Frenzy!
Thu, Jul 10, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us to make beaded necklaces or bracelets you can bring home with you. Supplies will be provided. Ages 6-13.
Coding Game Night - ages 6-12 - Hands-on fun in programming, robotics, and electronics!
Thu, Jul 10, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.
See all events
Adult SummerQuest Events
Calligraphy Workshop
Thu, Jun 05, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Are you curious about learning in calligraphy?Join us to learn and practice different styles each session at Burke!
Diversity Book Club - "Our Missing Hearts" by Celeste Ng
Mon, Jun 09, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Virtual - Zoom
Please join us for an online discussion of Celeste Ng's 2022 novel.
Dungeons and Dragons: Adult Group! - Adventure awaits!
Thu, Jun 12, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Second Floor
Looking to join a Dungeons and Dragons group? Look no further!
Calligraphy Workshop
Thu, Jun 19, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Are you curious about learning in calligraphy?Join us to learn and practice different styles each session at Burke!
LGBTQ+ Pride Galaxy Paint Night - Paint your galaxy!
Mon, Jun 23, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Second Floor
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month by painting a galaxy using the colors of the Pride flag!
Calligraphy Workshop
Thu, Jul 03, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Are you curious about learning in calligraphy?Join us to learn and practice different styles each session at Burke!
Dungeons and Dragons: Adult Group! - Adventure awaits!
Thu, Jul 10, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Second Floor
Looking to join a Dungeons and Dragons group? Look no further!
See all events

Thank you Washington Nationals for providing prizes for SummerQuest. 

SummerQuest Jr. is made possible through a generous grant from the James M. Duncan, Jr. Library Foundation, Inc. SummerQuest is made possible through support from the Alexandria Library Foundation, Inc., the Friends of Beatley Central Library, Friends of Barrett Library, Friends of Burke Library, Friends of Duncan Library and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. SummerQuest is also supported by generous donations from the Brown-Sanchez family and Alexandria Toyota. Prizes provided by the Washington Nationals.

* This project is supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

For reasonable accommodation for any of these programs, contact jgregorio@alexlibraryva.org or call 703.746.1701 or TTY 703.746.1790.

Last updated: April 2024