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Jacob Edwards Library launches its Plant a Seed, Read summer reading program on June 29, 2026. Early registration starts June 22! Visit us for your reading packet and join the summer fun!

We’ve planned a wonderful program for kids to make the library a great place to read, learn, and discover what’s available for their enjoyment,” said Children’s Librarian Liz Gendreau.

To learn more about the summer reading adventure please call 508-764-5427 or email egendreau@cwmars.org.

  • Over a six-week period, the library will host a range of free activities for children to encourage and support a love of reading. Participants can win prizes for reaching their reading goals.
  • Themed events include animal shows, magic shows, music, and a Foam Party!
  • Children can earn raffle tickets for reading and have a chance to win a prize which is drawn weekly.
  • There’s also a serious side to summer reading. Research has shown that reading over the summer prevents summer reading loss.
  • Studies also indicate students who read recreationally outperformed those who don’t. Students read more when they can choose materials based on their own interests.

NEED TO KNOW:

Registration starts June 22, 2026.

The reading programs starts June 29, 2026.

The program ends on August 7, 2026.

View our Summer Event Calendar – EngagedPatrons

Sponsored by Southbridge Cultural Council, FoJEL and Borgatti Fund.

plant a seed read children

A Library Card is the key to many free services!

  • View our online calendar for dates and times of all our free events and programs for kids! Including:
    • Construction Crew with LEGO
    • Crafty Wednesdays
    • Imagination Station Monday night
    • Sensory Station every fourth Thursday
    • Story Times on Wednesdays and Fridays
  • A comfortable space for learning and recreation
    • Come visit Eddy, our pet library fish!
    • Dress-up station
    • Toys and games for family fun
  • Search our catalog for library materials to check out
    • Books for all reading levels and interests
    • DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs, videogames
  • Homework and school project resources
  • Museum Passes
  • Summer Reading Program
  • We are a Summer Food Service location
  • Other questions? Ask a Librarian!
Animated characters ride a scooter with one holding a library card. Text reads, A library card is elemental. Get yours today! September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. Logos for ALA, OverDrive, and Beanstack are below.
Five colorful cartoon characters—a fox, robot, green monster, dog, and owl—stand behind a large blue sign that says AWE LEARNING in bold white letters.

AWE Learning Workstations

We now have 4 workstations in our new section of the Children’s Room called “Imagination Station”.

AWE Learning workstations are an ideal makerspace resources that provide interactive, engaging ways for young learners to practice digital skills in a safe environment.

A smiling young boy holds a book titled The Cool Bean. Above him are images of headphones and a VoxBooks audio device, with the text “Introducing VoxBooks: Books that Talk! All-In-One Read-Alongs.”.

VOX Books Available Now!

Stop in and see our growing collection!

JEL Kids Play Area

Come explore our popular “Creative Play Area”

A small reading nook for children sits next to a purple beanbag, a basket of stuffed animals, and shelves filled with books in a library’s children’s section. The nook has a sign labeled Reading Nook.
A young boy and an adult woman sit on the floor in a playroom, interacting with a colorful marble run toy. Various other toys and play equipment are visible in the background.
A variety of colorful childrens toys, including cars, trucks, a dollhouse, and an abacus, are neatly arranged on and inside a wooden shelf in a room with carpeted flooring.
A plastic childrens play kitchen set with a green countertop, stove, sink, microwave, oven, fridge, and cabinets. A pink basket toy sits on the counter, and a play broom leans against the set.
Two hand puppets—a zebra and a princess—sit on a shelf in front of colorful toys. Above them, two clown dolls in bright outfits are seated on swings attached to a cream brick wall.
An adult and a child, both wearing red plastic firefighter hats, sit at a table with coloring pages and crayons in a library. Bookshelves and colorful decorations are visible in the background.
A small white playhouse with black trim and open door sits on a carpeted floor in a library or classroom, with a red stool and bookshelves visible in the background.
A childrens play grocery store checkout with a toy cash register, scanner, and shelves, sits in a playroom. A small white playhouse and wooden abacus are visible in the background.
  • Dress-Up Clothing
  • Grocery Store
  • Jigsaw Puzzles
  • Keyboards and many other instruments
  • Legos
  • Lots of different children’s toys (Melissa and Doug/Disney/Mattel/Fisher-Price)
  • Puppets
  • Play House
  • Play Kitchen
  • Reading Nook 
  • Stuffed Toys

Explore our online resources

World Book Online logo with white text on a blue gradient background and a small circular emblem on the left.
Green rectangular button with the text Kids InfoBits and GALE on the left. On the right, there is a cartoon child with brown skin, short hair, and a big smile, extending both arms outward.
Mango Languages logo with mango in green lowercase letters, the accent over the a in orange, and languages in smaller gray lowercase letters below.

International Children’s Digital Library – contains over 4000 books in 59 languages, available for free.

Online Resources Pre-K through Grade 5