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The Contra Costa County Library system’s Summer Reading progam is here, and this year’s theme is “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” Beginning June 1, sign up with Beanstack (ccclib.beanstack.org/reader365) to track your participation. Print your own reading passport or visit your local library branch to pick one up. The whole family can have an adventurous summer of reading, outdoor activities and exciting virtual programs.

Related Articles Local News | Library Lines: In-person storytime returning in June to Contra Costa Local News | Library Lines: ‘Vanderbeekers’ focus of Contra Costa kids reading event Local News | Library Lines: Walnut Creek’s Ygnacio Valley branch reopening soon Everyone who completes Summer Reading wins prizes, including a free book, and is entered into a drawing for a chance to win more. This year’s Summer Reading events include a hike with the East Bay Regional Park District, exploring the dark side of caves, a bit about bats and much more. These events are offered online, and registration may be required. Summer Reading runs through July 30. Don’t miss this chance to become one with nature and your library. Visit ccclib.org/summer for all the details.

Celebrate pride: Join the county library system and the world in celebrating Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Pride Month. Enjoy a pride-themed storytime or one of the many LGBTQ+ library resources.

Watch pride-themed films on Kanopy, read The Advocate online with Flipster, check out LGBTQ+ books from the Deloach and Troy Trust LGBTQ+ collection, borrow the My Rainbow Family Stories to Go Kit or read an eBook with OverDrive’s LGBTQIA special collection. Come into any branch this June, and where you see the Pride Progress Flag you’ll find a special bookmark with a list of children’s picture books celebrating rainbow families, gender identity and expression.

Read Contra Costa: The library system needs your help in selecting the book for Read Contra Costa 2022. The program is an annual event that encourages all county residents and library users to share the experience of reading and discussing the same book.

The library purchases extra copies of the selected title in multiple formats, schedules events around the theme of the book, and invites the author to present a talk as the finale to the program. Library staff have culled through hundreds of well-reviewed titles written over the past year or two and come up with a top list of books from various genres. Voting will continue through June 20 at ccclib.org. The winning book will be announced in July.

In-person storytime: Beginning in June, in-person storytime will return to Contra Costa library branches. Check the event calendar for details, as specific dates and times will vary at each branch. Space is available on a first-come-first-served basis, and room capacity limits will be enforced. Storytime themes at some branches include pajamas, family, campfire, preschool and the senses.

Obama portraits: The de Young Museum in San Francisco is part of the seven-city U.S. tour of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s official portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center will present a webinar on the portraits from 2 to 3 p.m June 8. For details, visit bayareane.ws/obamaportraits online.

The tour highlights the power of portraiture and its potential to engage communities. This webinar discusses the artists behind the portraits, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, the first African Americans to be commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery to create official portraits of a president or first lady. Throughout their careers, the artists have addressed the lack of Black representation in Western art history and have used portraiture to explore complex issues of identity.

For more program information or to register for Zoom events, visit ccclib.org/events. Visit ccclib.org to sign up for a library card and get connected to books and resources. For questions about library services, programming or account information, contact the library system via online chat, email ask@library.cccounty.us or text questions to 925-290-7627.

Brooke Converse is the Contra Costa County Library system’s public information officer and can be reached at brooke.converse@library.cccounty.us.

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