As summer rolls into Irvine, the local Public Library invites the community to dive into books and engage in diverse, free events designed to kindle a love for reading and bolster literacy across all age groups, the library announced its season-long program, "Summer with the Library," offering activities ranging from storytimes for the little ones to enriching book clubs for adults.
The program kicks off with a Pop-Up Library at Heritage Community Park, where, from June 8 to July 13, attendees can enjoy book browsing and staff assistance on Sundays between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. The Online Summer Reading Program also opens its virtual doors from July 9 through 31, promising prizes for fervent readers of all ages, which, together with the pop-up experience, aims to spread literacy and joy through the act of reading, according to the city's announcement.
Kids have a slew of thematic storytimes like Pajama Storytime at University Community Center on June 10 and 17 at 6 pm, Storytime Saturdays at various locations, and others, each crafted to support early literacy and make reading an enjoyable pastime. Teenagers prepping for finals can hunker down in designated study halls available at multiple community centers, including Las Lomas and Northwood, until June 4. These study spaces offer both weekday and weekend schedules.
Adults are treated to book club gatherings featuring titles like "The Song of Achilles" and "Fuzz," fostering thoughtful discussions and a sense of community. The first meeting circles around Madeline Miller's book on Friday, and the second dips into Mary Roach's work on June 27.
In a move to localize library services, some branches will temporarily close. Heritage Park and University Park Libraries shut down last Friday and plan to reopen on August 4, while Katie Wheeler Library bids adieu on July 1, set to welcome bookworms again in early 2026. Details on this are outlined in the city's press release.
