Cork City Libraries Summer Reading Challenge 2026

What to Expect

Cork City Libraries runs its Summer Reading Challenge every year from July through August, encouraging children to keep reading during the school holidays. Children call into any branch, collect a special reading booklet, record the books they read over the summer, and receive a medal on completion. The challenge is free to all children and is available at every branch of Cork City Libraries.

Cork County Council libraries run a parallel Summer Reading Programme at their 25 branches and 4 mobile libraries across the county, open to children throughout Cork County.

Good to Know

• Period: approximately July to end of August 2026 (start date to be confirmed at libraries)
• Available at: all Cork City Libraries branches and Cork County libraries
• Free; no advance registration needed - just call in to any library
• Children receive a reading booklet and medal on completion
• Cork County Library branches: corkcoco.ie/en/resident/libraries

Getting There

The City Library on Grand Parade is the central branch; a full list of Cork City Libraries branches is at corkcitylibraries.ie/en/locations/.