September 2023 | Volume XLI, Issue 3 »

iREAD Roundup 2023

September 1, 2023
Becca Boland, Illinois Library Association

Orange County Public Library, California

More than 1,250 libraries in 43 states, plus Department of Defense base libraries worldwide, libraries in Australia, New Zealand (it’s not even summer there!) and Bermuda participated in iREAD® in 2023, themed “Find Your Voice!” Our voices have power. We use our voices to share stories, express ourselves, and spark change. Our voices include not only the sounds we make, but the words we write, the art we create, the movements we perform, and the actions we take each day to impact our world. iREAD® 2023: Find Your Voice! / ¡Encuentra tu voz! provided context for exploring books, history, social justice, and STEAM fields as well as developing library programs and services that empower patrons of all ages to make their voices heard.

Begun in 1981 as an Illinois-only partnership among youth services librarians in the state, iREAD® has grown to include formal or partial statewide adoptions well beyond our borders, including Alaska, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. In 2023, libraries decorated their spaces; including creating murals, bulletin boards, and displays; had innovative programs like “Find Your Pirate Voice” or “Find Your Animal Voice” and encouraged patrons to be a part of our world with Little Mermaid themed “Find Your Voice” programs. Libraries hosted talent shows where patrons could share their creative voices and expressed themselves through painting and creation of all kinds. The possibilities were endless and there were seemingly endless ways that libraries found ways to help their patrons share their unique voices. We are so happy to share some of those unique experiences here. Visit your library and find your voice!

We thank Donna Block of the Bensenville Community Public Library, 2023 iREAD® chair, and her committee for their hard work to develop and implement this year’s theme. 

To see all the photos included in the iREAD Roundup 2023, view the pdf copy. 

iREAD Summer Reading Programs

Since 1981, iREAD provides high quality, low-cost resources and products that enable local library staff to motivate children, young adults, and adults to read.

Visit the iREAD website »