Dare to explore, Read City!
Bring your curiosity and sense of adventure as you complete fun, exploratory missions to "level up" and earn prizes at the library. Mayor Jacobs has challenged us to complete 100,000 missions in 2024.
What's different this year? You'll complete literacy activities that include creating a game character, drawing, reading, writing, and exploring, instead of logging reading time. Complete as few as 5 missions to earn a prize from the "loot box".
Explore even more! Challenge #3
"Build your own" adventure in our upcoming challenge, beginning October 1. This challenge is all about utilizing everything the library has to offer in your own way—explore new ideas, try new resources, learn new skills, discover new stories, craft new dreams, and imagine new adventures!
Join the challenge by picking up a gameboard at any library location or registering in Beanstack. Return to the library every five missions you complete for a "loot box" prize. Finishers who complete 25 missions earn a bonus prize.
We enjoyed epic summer adventures in the Quest for Knowledge game. Together, we completed 110,475 literacy missions such as listening, playing, reading, and exploring.
Over 25,000 patrons attended our amazing summer programming. From fairytale-inspired engineering to dragon wings, each program counted as a mission towards our goal.
Participants earned 14,564 loot box prizes! 2,800 children and teens completed 25 or more missions to earn a prize pack that includes 27 treats and adventures from area businesses and organizations.
Read more about the impact of summer learning adventures.
Our first challenge of the year was such a success, thanks to you! Together, we completed nearly 30,000 missions in the Daring Deeds Adventure Game.
Our real-life adventurers Amelia, David, Jacques, Sophia, Matthew, and Neil inspired us to be curious, bold, and brave as we explored new books, literary genres, forms of response, resources, and programs. Way to go, Read City!
We can't wait for our summer adventure to begin.
Upcoming events
Walking tour and scavenger hunt -- 1982 World's Fair
After School Storytime
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Musical Storytime
Build a Birdhouse
2024 Schedule
Challenge #1
Daring Deeds
- Completed! (30,000 missions)
One Book Read City
- One Book author Ashlyn Anstee joined us at the Children's Festival of Reading
Challenge #2
Quest for Knowledge
- May 18–August 7
Challenge #3
Build Your Own Adventure
- October 1–November 30
Print your own Read City activities
Choose your own adventure! Is your character dancing, running, playing? You decide, you design it.
Is your dragon friendly or vile? You choose the characteristics when you create this fun paper craft!
Paper, glue, and crayons bring a mythical creature to life for endless storytelling fun!
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.