Carry the Story: Summer Reading Community
Glendale Library, Arts & Culture
Innovation Synopsis
In summer 2025, Glendale Library, Arts & Culture reimagined its annual Summer Reading Challenge to become a tool for community healing in response to devastating wildfires that displaced families across the region. As part of this effort, the library offered a free tote bag showcasing our library branches and mountain community to everyone who signed up for the challenge. The tote, designed by a local artist recognized for their work supporting fire-impacted families, became both a symbol of welcome, pride and a drive to engage with the library’s programs for existing patrons and those newly housed in our community.
Challenge/Opportunity
In the aftermath of the 2025 devastating wildfires, communities in and around Glendale experienced significant upheaval. Thousands of families lost their homes and were temporarily relocated, often to cities and neighborhoods where they had no existing social connections. Glendale Library staff noticed that many displaced families were attending story times and looking for help with resources.
At Glendale Library, Arts & Culture, the Summer Reading Challenge was already an annual tradition, but staff recognized that it could serve a broader purpose in this moment of community disruption. The question became: How can we adapt a beloved program to meet new audiences who are not familiar with our spaces and resources?
The events of the year created an opportunity to reframe the library as a place for connection, creativity, and community care, and open doors to those who did not know our town and libraries.
Key Elements of Innovation
GLAC launched our annual Summer Reading Challenge (SRC) with intention of responding to our communities unique needs this year by offering a custom-designed tote bag that served as both incentive and symbol of community healing.
• Structure: Commissioned local artist Asher Bingham, known for drawing homes lost in recent wildfires, to create artwork representing GLAC branches and affected mountain communities.
• Implementation: Artwork printed on tote bags distributed to patrons signing up for SRC
• Goals: Increase program engagement, support fire-impacted residents, highlight local art, and position the library as a cultural and community hub to new residents.
• Key Partners: Asher Bingham, local media, community orgs.
• Activities: Tote distribution, social media engagement, press outreach, summer reading programs and sign ups.
• Innovation: Combined art, outreach, and healing; elevated a traditional reading program into a model for creative community recovery, welcome, and inclusion
Achieved Outcomes
The Summer Reading Tote program saw 3,437 total signups. Compared to 2024, Children’s signups rose 83%, Teens increased 110% (a record high), and Adults surged 367%. 2,500 totes were distributed in the first 3 weeks. Many participants were first-time users, including fire-displaced families and longtime residents new to library programs. Staff reported increased return visits for workshops and services. Social media posts and in-person feedback praised the tote’s design and symbolism. The tote became a visible sign of pride across the city. New partnerships formed with local artists and community orgs. Impact is measured by registration data, tote distribution, library card signups, and program attendance.
