The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands Regional Library will launch its annual summer reading program with online registration beginning Monday May 11th . Participants can start logging their reading on Monday, May 25th , and continuing through Thursday, July 31st . This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story”, where dinosaurs will abound!
The program is for readers of all ages and divided into four categories: preschool (ages 0-5); kids (ages 6- 11); teens (ages 12-18); and adults (age 19 and older). There will be registration prize bags, as well as prizes awarded when participants attain the reading goals set for each category. The SRP Prize Tent is returning, filled with an array of prizes for everyone. To register, visit the AHRL website at www.ahrlib.org and select “2026 SRP” from the menu bar. Follow the instructions to register, and then begin logging your time spent reading. Logging your minutes read is easy using the Beanstack Tracker App from your phone or tablet.
SRP 2026 events will kick off with “Collaborative Coloring & Cookies” on Tuesday June 2nd from 1:00 to 3:00pm in the Community Room. Kids are welcome to stop by anytime during those hours to help color giant dinosaur murals, and enjoy yummy cookies. A variety of summer programs and events will be offered for children, teens, and adults during the months of June and July.
We have two exciting interactive shows scheduled this year. First, on Thursday, June 11th , Bright Star Theater will be joining us for “Dino Academy: Dinosaur Discovery Show”. This show is sponsored by Highlands Community Bank. Our next event, sponsored by People’s Bank, will be Mr. Mike’s “Great Big Balloon Show”, held on Friday, July 10th . Both programs will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Granbery Church in Covington. This year, for the first time ever, we have added a special live performance for adults and teens. On Friday, June 26th , we will welcome Aspen Black for her show “Generations”, a live music and rural storytelling event here at the Library. This event is sponsored by Ingevity.
Additional programs will include Summer Storytimes for ages 0-5 with Miss Tori and Sprit the therapy dog, Make & Take crafts, a photo scavenger hunt, family movie nights, Dog Man Bingo, collaborative events with Douthat’s “Ranger Hannah”, Pizza & Pages Teen Book Club, adult craft programs, and much more. Please access our website calendar at www.ahrlib.org for event dates and times, or pick up an events flyer at the library. We are located at 406 W. Riverside St. in Covington. For more information regarding the AHRL’s 2026 Summer Reading Program and upcoming events, call the Alleghany Highlands Regional Library at 540-962-3321. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed on all the AHRL has to offer this summer.
