Up, up, and away!
Summer Library Challenge, May 17–August 7
Aim for the stars, scientists, in our Read City USA summer challenge. Let your imagination soar and your curiosity take flight as you read, play, and investigate to earn prizes.
Pick up your 'Sky Above Us' gameboard at the Children's Festival of Reading or any library location beginning May 17. You can also track activities online with Beanstack!
High-flying prizes
Summer library challenge participants earn a prize every five activities they complete and log on their gameboard or in Beanstack.
Plus, if you finish 25 activities, you'll earn a bonus completion prize.
Upcoming events
Children's Festival of Reading 2025
Friends of the Library - Used Book Sale
Downtown Walking Tour: Knoxville Goes to the Movies!
Carl Sagan
American astronomer and NASA scientist
Katherine Johnson
Part of the "Hidden Figures" team of Black womens mathematicians at NASA
Lonnie Johnson
Former NASA engineer best known for inventing the Super Soaker
Mark Rober
Former Apple Inc. product designer and NASA engineer turned YouTuber
Print your own Read City activities
Apply for your security clearance for entry to the Library Laboratory—where you can go to wonder and investigate!
Get into character to make a discovery, invent something, or simply be curious!
Experiment, examine, and explore with your own scientist character.
Read City USA
Led by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, READ CITY USA is a collaborative initiative of Knox County Government, Knox County Public Library, Knox County Schools, and other community organizations to help all children learn to read early and well, thereby reaching their full potential in school and in life.