As of 1 July 2026, PressReader will no longer be available through the CMLS service. From that time, members will need to access BorrowBox for an expanding catalogue of ePress titles.
Learn about BorrowBox
Dive into reading this summer with the Big Summer Read!
See how many books you can read between 1 December and 31 January and discover a world of adventure! We’ve also got challenges with great prizes.
How to play:
Simply register online or at your local library branch. Track your reading online or in a journal. Complete challenges and go into the draw to win!
Our branches will have scavenger hunt, challenging kids to find Big Summer Read mascots in the library to go in the draw for great prizes. Drop into your local library between 5 January an 31 January, 2026, and discover the other FREE holiday resources on offer for kids and families.
The Big Summer Read is an annual reading challenge run by Public Libraries Victoria. It is designed to encourage young people 0-18 years to read and engage with their local public libraries over the Australian summer school holidays in December and January.
Now in it’s fifth year, the Big Summer Read has grown to include all public library services in Victoria as well as public libraries in Tasmania, Queensland New South Wales and South Australia. Last year in 2024, more than 24,000 young readers participated in the challenge, and that was just in Victoria!
Wordsearch
Colouring page
Make a chatterbox
*A paper Reading Journal can be collected from your local library branch.
Bring on a summer filled with stories!
All children between the ages of 0-18 are welcome to participate! Independent and non-independent readers can log any book they read, that is read to them, or listened to as an audio.
We encourage parents and caregivers to continue to read aloud to young people during the summer school holidays and log these books as part of the challenge.
Children under the age of 13 will need a parent’s permission to register with the Read Books website.
Big Summer Read is a statewide reading challenge for all public library members!
Free