Registration for the 2026 NLS Summer Reading Program
Please visit Braille Institute Library's Summer Reading Program landing page to find all the details and register: brailleinstitute.org/summer-reading-program
Information on the series and the registration link can also be found on the NLS website: loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/summer-reading [loc.gov]
This Summer's Theme
This year's theme is Unearth a Story — an invitation to explore the histories, landscapes, and voices hidden just beneath the surface of the world around us. At the heart of this year's programming is a deep focus on the National Parks Service and America's public lands, woven throughout an exploration of ecology, environment and stewardship; human stories embedded in place; and the role of science, observation and memory in how we understand the world around us. A highlight of the adult programming includes an event with Peter Heller, the author of The Dog Stars (DB75493), a post-apocalyptic novel, soon to be released as a film directed by Ridley Scott.
What's Included
The program runs for nine weeks, from June 15 through August 11, and features two exciting ways to participate:
Webinars - Live conversations over Zoom with authors, artists, national park rangers and other compelling voices.
· Kickoff event on Monday, June 15 at 1 pm PT (4 pm ET)
· The rest of the webinar sessions will be held every other Tuesday at 1 pm PT (4 pm ET), starting June 16
· Patrons only need to register once to access the entire series
Narrated Soundscapes - A truly special collaboration between Braille Institute Library, National Parks Service Rangers, Library of Congress sound designers and select NLS network librarians who narrated their own state's episode. A new Soundscape will be dropped on Braille Institute Library's Summer Reading Program page every other Monday, starting June 22. Once posted on the webpage, each one stays available so patrons can explore at their own pace.
A Note on Registration
Please note that Zoom's registration page requires an email address. If you do not have one, NLS has set up a toll-free phone registration option. Patrons can call 888-245-2471 to leave a voicemail with your information, and Braille Institute Library staff will register you.