Looking for something BIG to do these summer holidays? Join the BIG Summer Read!
The BIG Summer Read (BSR) is open to Victorian children aged 0-18.
If you love reading, this summer reading program is for you!
It's as easy as Join. Borrow. Play. Win!
Register now!
What is the BIG Summer Read?
The BIG Summer Read (BSR) is a reading challenge especially for kids. It aims to encourage children aged 0 to 18 to read over the summer holidays, and for families to engage with libraries in a fun way.
Summer holidays are traditionally a time when children’s reading time reduces. The program keeps school-aged children reading over summer, and the online format enables kids to access the challenge anywhere, anytime, in a fun, interactive way.
The BIG Summer Read uses the new reading challenges website ReadBooks to log books read. When reading milestones are reached, kids can earn ‘badges’ to mark their progress. Speak to library staff if you would prefer a paper reading log.
Kids need to read and log of minimum of 10 books between 1 December 2024 and 31 January 2025 to complete the BSR challenge and be part of the statewide and local prize draws.
The program is based on research and the awesome knowledge and experience of Children and Youth Librarians from around Victoria. For more information about the BSR, visit Public Libraries Victoria’s website.
Register now!
How to play
- Register online at ReadBooks. Children under the age of 13 must register with a parent or guardian.
- Complete the Reading Challenge by reading at least 10 books and logging them on ReadBooks. Paper forms are available, if you prefer - speak to our staff.
- To be in the running to win a prize, a child’s reading log must be entered on ReadBooks by 31 January 2025.
- If you complete a paper form but wish to be eligible for prizes, talk to library staff about how to log your details online.
- Participants who complete the challenge can collect a Certificate of Completion from any of our four branches by showing staff their online reading log or a completed paper form.
Important dates
- The challenge opens Sunday 1 December 2024.
- Entries close Friday 31 January 2025.
- Statewide winners will be announced on 12 February 2025; local prize winners after 12 February.
Prizes
Participants who register for the BIG Summer Read through ReadBooks will be eligible for a range of prizes. There are local and statewide prizes to be won.
- Statewide prizes: Book Packs donated by James Bennett, curated to suit the winners’ ages across four categories: 0 to 4 years; 5 to 8 years; 9 to 12 years; and 13-18 years.
- Darebin Libraries prizes: five x $50 Readings gift vouchers; two Family Swim passes for Reservoir Leisure Centre.
Do I have to use the Readbooks.com.au website?
To enter the prize draw, your reading must be logged on ReadBooks. If you need help using ReadBooks, speak to our friendly staff.
Paper forms are available for those who wish to complete the challenge offline. If you complete a paper form but wish to be eligible for prizes, talk to library staff if you need help entering your details online at ReadBooks.
How old do I need to be to participate in the BIG Summer Read?
The challenge is open to children and young people aged 0-18. However, ReadBooks registration can only be completed by readers aged 13+, or with consent from a parent or guardian 18 years or over.
Please read the competition information and Terms and Conditions with an adult for details about the BIG Summer Read and eligibility for the prize draw.
The prizes are Book Packs donated by James Bennett, curated to suit the winners across four age categories: 0 to 4 years; 5 to 8 years; 9 to 12 years; and 13-18 years.
Winners and their nominated Library Service will be notified via email.
Terms and Conditions of the statewide prize draw
- Readers can enter the statewide prize draw by registering for the BIG Summer Read on ReadBooks and reading and recording 10 books between 1 December 2024 and 31 January 2025.
- ReadBooks registration can only be completed by individual readers aged 13+, or with consent from a parent or guardian 18 years or over.
- The BIG Summer Read is open to children aged 0-18 years of age.
- Each reader can only enter the statewide prize draw once.
- The Statewide prizes will be 4 Book Packs curated to suit the winners’ ages:
0-4 years: board books
5-8 years: picture books
9-12 years: junior fiction/graphic novels
13-18 years: YA fiction/graphic novels.
- The Competition opens: Sunday 1 December 2024 at 9am.
- The Competition closes: Friday 31 January 2025 at 5pm.
- No late entries will be accepted.
- The Statewide prize draw and winner notification is on 12 February.
- Winners will be determined by random draw, and one winner per library service.
- Winners will be notified by their local library service.
- If a Winner cannot arrange collection of their prize within 14 days, the local library service must contact PLV to draw a new winner.
Local prize winners have the chance of winning:
- ·one of five x $50 Readings gift vouchers
- ·one of two Family Swim Passes to Reservoir Leisure Centre.
Winners will be drawn randomly from Darebin participants who complete the challenge on ReadBooks.
For families who don’t want to use the website to play, a printed version of the challenge will be available at all libraries. To be eligible for prizes, a participant's reading will need to be logged online at ReadBooks. Speak to our staff if you need help with this.
Terms and Conditions of the local prize draw
- Darebin readers automatically register in the local prize draw by registering for the BIG Summer Read on ReadBooks and reading and recording 10 books between 1 December 2024 and 31 January 2025. Our staff can assist you if you need help logging your reading on ReadBooks.
- Participants or participants’ parent/guardian must have a Darebin Libraries’ membership.
- ReadBooks registration can only be completed by individual readers aged 13+, or with consent from a parent or guardian 18 years or over.
- The BIG Summer Read is open to children aged 0-18 years of age.
- Each reader can only enter the local prize draw once.
- The Challenge opens on Sunday 1 December 2024 at 9am.
- The Challenge closes on Friday 31 January 2025 at 5pm.
- No late entries will be accepted.
- Winners will be notified after 12 February 2025.
- Winners will be determined by a random draw and notified by email or phone.
When you register for the BIG Summer Read on ReadBooks, the following statement will be emailed to you or your parent/guardian:
ReadBooks is committed to keeping your personal information secure and only using it for the purpose you would expect. In order to perform this, we will:
- Only collect the minimum amount of data required to perform a task
- Minimise the access of your information only to those who require it within our organisation
- Not disclose or share the stored information for any purpose other than:
- where required to perform the task for which the information was originally submitted
- where required to by law
- Not sell your information for any reason or use it to generate a profit
- Remove any or all personal information upon request of the person whose data has been captured
- Not retain any data that is no longer being used for the original purpose it was submitted.