Adult Summer Reading Challenge 2026

Submit your response here or turn in a printed form at any Dare County Library branch. Entries may be submitted June 1, 2026 through August 15, 2026.

Printable Adult Summer Reading 2026

Three "Summer Fun" prize packages will be awarded; winners will be selected at random from all entries submitted. Winners will be contacted on August 17, 2026. Prizes must be picked up in person at any Dare County Library by September 8, 2026.

Adult Summer Reading Challenge 2026

Complete 1 activity from each level for a small prize and an entry to our prize drawing. Stop by any Dare County Library to pick up your small prize. Complete all activities for an extra entry! Entries may be submitted June 1, 2026 through August 15, 2026.

Choose 1  to discover:

• Read a book with water, light, stars, or summer on the cover.

• Browse the Dare County Library of Things and discover something unexpected. 

• Explore NC LIVE’s HomeGrown eBooks with unlimited checkouts and no waiting. Not sure where to start? Try Food & Wine in the Nonfiction collection for some delicious NC recipes! https://resources.nclive.org/homegrown

Choose 1 to explore:

• Try a digital library resource you’ve never used before. See the full list at DareNC.gov/VirtualLibrary

• Find something interesting in a section of the library you don’t usually explore.

• Too hot to go outside? Watch live or catch a replay Online Author Talk at https://libraryc.org/darelibrary 

Choose 1 to connect:

• Think of a library book that you enjoyed and add a recommendation to the “Readers Recommend” display at your Dare County Library branch.

• Share a favorite book with a friend or family member.

• Read a Dare County Library book with a North Carolina sticker.

Choose 1 to shine:

• Read in a place you’ve never read before.

• Recommend a library service, program, or resource to someone else. 

• Learn something new about NC Cardinal and our new library system.

Dare County Library offers more than 60 Book Club in a Bag Kits. These kits contain 12 copies of a book, a book assignment tracker, discussion questions, and additional resources about the book. The books cover a broad range of fiction and non-fiction. Whether you’re just starting a book club or looking for something new for an existing club, this Kit is just the thing! 

General Information:

• A representative may check out one Book Club in a Bag kit at a time. That person is responsible for all twelve (12) copies in the set. A Liability Waiver must be signed and will be kept on file while the set is checked out.  
• Sets must be reserved in-person or via phone call; they cannot be reserved through the online catalog. Sets may be reserved up to twelve (12) months in advance. Contacts to reserve sets at each library are below. 
• Sets may be checked out for thirty (30) days. There is a seven (7) day turnaround between a set being returned and available to check out to the next hold request. 
• The Book Club in a Bag kit must be returned, in its entirety (all copies of the book, the bag, and the attached barcode), to a Dare County Library. Please DO NOT put it in the book drop.
• Please return the books in the same condition that you received them. Charges for lost or damaged books will be assessed when the set is returned. 

To reserve your Book Club in a Bag set, reach out to the contact at your home library: 

Manteo Library: Sophie Bennewitz, 252-473-2372 or sophie.bennewitz@darenc.gov 

Learn more on our Online Book Club in a Bag Guide

Click here for Book Club Schedules, picks and resources.

Kill Devil Hills Library Book Club: 

Meets the second Tuesday of most months from 4:15-5:15 p.m. (We do not meet June, July, August, or December). 

Contact Julie Stewart in Kill Devil Hills at 252-441-4331 to learn how to join in. 

Manteo Library Book Club:

Meets the second Thursday of most months from 4:00-5:00 p.m. (We do not meet June, July, August, or December). 

Contact Sophie Bennewitz at the Manteo Library at 252-473-2372.  

Hatteras Library Book Club: 

Meets the third Friday of the month from 4:00-5:00 p.m. 

Contact Michelle Lord at the Hatteras Library at 252-982-2385

Love a good mystery?  Enjoy talking with other mystery lovers?  We invite you to join the Manteo Mystery Book Club for adults.

Our first meeting will be held on Thursday, June 18 from 2 pm - 3pm at the Manteo Library Meeting Room. Visit our online calendar for more dates.

Meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month at 2 pm. 

For more information, call the Manteo Library at 252-473-2372.

The Dare County Library's Library Speakers Consortium showcases an online author talk series each month featuring bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. The featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.

Join us online from home or attend a watch party at your favorite Dare County Library branch to enjoy the program with fellow readers. Select events will be available as in-person watch parties at Dare County Library branches. Visit our online calendar for more details.

This free, online series takes place four times a month and includes the opportunity to ask questions to the author. A complete list of events is available on Dare County Library's virtual author talk series website at Dare County Online Author Talks.

 Stay up-to-date by signing up for the Dare County Online Author Talks newsletter.

This feature is made possible by funding provided by the Dare County Library Foundation. 

KDH Library Scribblers' Society
Writing Club for Adults

Bring your notebook, your ideas and your favorite pen! The KDH Library Scribblers' Society meets monthly at the Kill Devil Hills Library for an hour of creative company, conversation and writing inspiration.

The KDH Library Scribblers' Society usually meets on the 4th Tuesday on the month from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Kill Devil Hills Library meeting room. Our schedule may change for the summer, please check the library calendar for dates.

Visit bit.ly/kdhscribblers for a look at recent handouts from the group.

For more information, contact Julie Stewart at 252-441-4331 or julie.stewart@DareNC.gov

Kickstart your culinary adventure! Come to the Manteo Library each month to pick up a kit: two recipes featuring our Spice of the Month and a sample of the spice. Kits will be available while supplies last.

Show off your creation with a picture and tag us @darecountylibrary or email us at Manteo.Library@DareNC.gov. We can't wait to see what you create!

The Dare County Library hosts monthly groups for anyone who enjoys working on yarn projects, such as knitting, crochet or other fiber arts. These are free, in-person events that are open to all skill levels. Bring an idea or your latest project to work on, and we'll help each other. No registration is required. What will you make next? 

Hatteras Library

Yarn Storming
Second and fourth Friday of each month
from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information contact Michelle Lord at 252-986-2385 or michelle.lord@darenc.gov.

Kill Devil Hills Library

Knit Knights
First and third Tuesday of each month
from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
For more information contact Julie Stewart at 252-441-4331 or julie.stewart@darenc.gov.

Manteo Library

Fiber Flock
Starting in January 2026, a new group for adults will start meeting at the Manteo Library on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

For more information contact Julie Stewart at 252-441-4331 or julie.stewart@darenc.gov..

True Crime Club at Hatteras Library

Join the new True Crime Club at Hatteras Library!
We’ll chat about what excites you most about true crime—books, documentaries, podcasts, and more!

This is a free program for adults.

Registration is not required.

Meets once a month on the 2nd Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Check our online calendar or call 252-986-2385 for upcoming dates.

Questions? Contact Michelle Lord at 252-986-2385.