Dig into reading this summer with Mid-Columbia Libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge! From towering tyrannosaurs to tiny trilobites, there’s a whole world of discovery waiting to be unearthed, with plenty of RAWR-some reads along the way.
Stop by your local Mid-Columbia Libraries branch or register in Beanstack starting May 15; you can begin logging your reading online or using a paper log on June 1: midcolumbialibraries.org/reading-challenges
Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate Día del Niño y los libros with us this year! We celebrated Día in Benton City, Pasco, Prosser, and Connell with the help of amazing organizations, businesses, and community members who helped make the event so special for local children and families. We look forward to celebrating with you all again in 2027!
Final total: 45,243 checkouts.
The good news: the challenge was a success and we hit our goal!
The bad news: none of the books Elissa read actually counted. We forgot to check them out.
She did get her brownies, though.
Thank you for showing up, checking out items, and helping us cross the finish line.
Gift card winners, courtesy of the Friends of Mid-Columbia Libraries, will be contacted soon!
39,348 checkouts and counting. Just 5,652 to go on the final day.
We checked in on Elissa. She’s done everything she can.
Now it’s up to all of you!
Check out one or more items before 9 pm tonight and help us reach 45,000 and tune in Monday for the final count.
Day 6: 31,420 checkouts and counting.
13,787 to go before tomorrow at 9 pm.
We’re not entirely sure who the real Sarah is anymore. The lines are starting to blur.
Help us close the gap. Check something out!
Day 5: 23,187 checkouts. We’ve officially crossed the halfway mark.
21,813 to go. 3 days left.
At this point, it’s unclear if Elissa is ever leaving that room.
You can help change that. Borrow one or more items by Saturday at 9 pm to be entered to win.
Day 4 update: we’ve hit 15,382 checkouts. Only 29,618 to go.
We "eely, eely" want to reach our goal. A book, audiobook, tool or game from our Library of Things, DVDs. It all helps! Now all we need is you.
Day 3 update: 5,486 checkouts yesterday, bringing us to 8,962.
We asked staff to help Elissa by reading a book… or doubling it.
They doubled it. Every time.
So here we are. Elissa is overwhelmed. Our staff didn't help.
Good news: you can actually help. Check out a physical or digital item and help us reach 45,000.
We know you want to show your love for the library, but there are better options than taping your favorite book to your bumper.
Celebrate National Library Week by stopping by your local library to scoop up one of three exclusive bumper stickers, while supplies last.
Love it enough to carry it with you? Our new “I ❤ my library” library card design is great for new library cardholders or if your current card has mysteriously vanished.
We’re off to a strong start: 3,476 checkouts on day one (+188 from last year).
The final stack of James Patterson has been delivered… and Elissa is asking for literally anything else.
Come check out a book from your favorite branch, borrow something from the Library of Things, or find an eBook or audiobook on Libby and help us hit 45,000 by April 25!
See you tomorrow for the next update.
We said we’d do whatever it takes to reach 45,000 checkouts… and unfortunately, we meant it. Help us hit our goal during National Library Week (April 19–25)… for the sake of everyone involved.
For every checkout (including items from our Library of Things) you will be entered to win a grocery gift card, courtesy of Friends of Mid-Columbia Libraries.
We’re proud to host a livestream of TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
This daylong symposium features 15+ brand-new TED Talks focused on the evolution and future of democracy, streaming live from Philadelphia during America’s 250th anniversary.
Join us for big ideas, thoughtful conversation and a shared civic moment.
Free and open to the public!
