Youth Services
ODL Youth Services assists libraries as they serve patrons from ages 0-18 through providing summer reading materials and assistance, training and professional development, program planning guidance, and help with other youth services related needs.
Summer Reading
This summer, Oklahoma libraries will invite readers of all ages to Unearth a Story! This dinosaur-themed adventure will bring prehistoric fun to life through books, activities, and exciting library programs.
Libraries across the state will offer hands-on activities, family events, interactive workshops, and reading challenges with fun prizes. Watch for all the adventures waiting at your library next summer—and get ready to dig into your next great story!
Local libraries use materials and program ideas developed by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) to inspire thousands of Oklahoma children and families each year. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries’ Youth Services Department distributes these resources to libraries across the state, supporting their efforts to keep young minds active and learning all summer long.
Oklahoma’s statewide Summer Reading Program is sponsored by local libraries, community partners, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Hunger Free Oklahoma
Oklahoma libraries serve as crucial community resource hubs to connecting families with vital resources and services to help ensure Oklahoma children have free access to healthy meals.
Hunger Free Oklahoma supports libraries in this mission by providing free materials such as posters, bookmarks, and more.
Connecting with Books
Read for Adventure with Your Local Library and the OKC Zoo
The Read for Adventure program encourages children and families to discover the joy of reading while connecting with wildlife and nature through books.
Participants who check out and read at least one title from the selected reading list receive a voucher good for up to four free general admission tickets to the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden.
The program promotes literacy, library engagement, and family learning experiences by pairing reading with a visit to one of Oklahoma’s most popular educational attractions.
The featured book list includes a variety of animal-, dinosaur-, and nature-themed titles for young readers, with books ranging from picture books and nonfiction to popular series. Vouchers are limited to one per family, available while supplies last, and expire June 30, 2027.
Book availability may vary by library. Please check with your participating local library to see which titles are currently available.
Join the Second Lady's 2026 Summer Reading Challenge and Win Prizes
June 1 – September 4, 2026
The Second Lady's 2026 Summer Reading Challenge encourages children entering kindergarten through eighth grade to read 12 books of their choice between June 1 and September 4, 2026. Participants who complete the challenge and submit their reading log through the White House website will receive a digital certificate, a personalized letter, and a commemorative bookmark. Readers will also be entered for a chance to win additional prizes, including a trip to Washington, D.C., and the White House.
My First Library
My First Library is an early literacy initiative promoting family reading. Since 80% of brain development occurs by age three, early reading is vital for a lifetime of literacy. To achieve this, the project provides quality children's books each month to children in Southwest Oklahoma.
Providing books and engaging parents/caregivers is the core strategy. Participating teachers introduce the monthly book with participating sites, read it aloud, and give one to each child to take home and build their home library.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program that provides free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, regardless of family income. Founded by Dolly Parton in 1995, the program aims to inspire a love of reading and improve early childhood literacy by mailing a new, age-appropriate book each month directly to a child's home. Starting as a local initiative in Tennessee, the Imagination Library has since expanded globally and now serves millions of children, fostering literacy, imagination, and lifelong learning.
Youth Services Grant
The Youth Services Early Learning and School Readiness Grant is designed to strengthen participating libraries’ programs for their youngest children. It will feature three main components: training with an Early Literacy expert, program creation, and implementation of the new program.
Questions? Please email statewideprograms@libraries.ok.gov.
.png)