Books & Audiobooks
Asian teen girl reading a book at the park on warm summer day.
Teen Summer Reading Challenge
Dates: Monday, July 7 to Thursday, August 22, 2025
Ages: 13 to 18
Join the excitement at any WPL location this summer! Here’s how you can participate:
- Check Out Any Library Item: Borrow any item from one of our four library locations and show your receipt to staff at a service desk to receive an Instant-Win Scratch Ticket (maximum 1 receipt/checkout per day). Scratch the ticket for a chance to win a small prize.
- Enter the Grand Prize Draw: Fill out the information on the second half of your scratch ticket and place it in the ballot box for a chance to win one of 4 Grand Prizes. No matter the outcome of your scratch ticket, you’re still eligible for the grand prize!
- Digital Checkouts: Submit our online form below with a picture of your checked-out eBook or eAudiobook to be instantly entered for the grand prize OR visit any WPL location and show staff to receive a scratch ticket.
- Attend Library Programs: Participate in our exciting teen summer programs at any WPL location for another Instant-Win Scratch Ticket and another chance to win! Check out our lineup of teen events to join the fun.
The grand prize winner will be drawn on Monday, August 25, 2025. Don’t miss out on the fun and fantastic prizes—start reading and participating today!
Upcoming Programs for Teens
Tech and Tools
Community Conversations: Shaping A New Innovation Space
June 9th: 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Main Library
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Session
Waterloo Public Library is designing a special space for our community to engage in hands-on experiences in robotics and AI, and we want to hear from you! At this session, you'll see five options for what might go in the space, give feedback on each, and then rank them in order of your preference. Provide your valuable input to help make the library more future-ready.
Newcomers to Canada
Let's Talk: Summer Camp 2025
July 7th: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Main Library
Age Group: Teens
Drop-in
About the Program
Looking for something fun and meaningful to do this summer? Let’s Talk Summer Camp is a free, week-long camp specially designed for newcomer youth ages 14–21.This is a shorter, summer version of our regular Let’s Talk program, and it's packed with awesome opportunities.
Newcomers to Canada
Let's Talk: Summer Camp 2025
July 8th: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Main Library
Age Group: Teens
Drop-in
About the Program
Looking for something fun and meaningful to do this summer? Let’s Talk Summer Camp is a free, week-long camp specially designed for newcomer youth ages 14–21.This is a shorter, summer version of our regular Let’s Talk program, and it's packed with awesome opportunities.
Newcomers to Canada
Let's Talk: Summer Camp 2025
July 9th: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Main Library
Age Group: Teens
Drop-in
About the Program
Looking for something fun and meaningful to do this summer? Let’s Talk Summer Camp is a free, week-long camp specially designed for newcomer youth ages 14–21.This is a shorter, summer version of our regular Let’s Talk program, and it's packed with awesome opportunities.
Newcomers to Canada
Let's Talk: Summer Camp 2025
July 10th: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Main Library
Age Group: Teens
Drop-in
About the Program
Looking for something fun and meaningful to do this summer? Let’s Talk Summer Camp is a free, week-long camp specially designed for newcomer youth ages 14–21.This is a shorter, summer version of our regular Let’s Talk program, and it's packed with awesome opportunities.
Crafts and Hobbies
Teen Crafternoon
July 12th: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
McCormick Branch
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Program
Love getting crafty in the afternoon? Spend some creative time working on fun hands-on projects like tie-dye, t-shirt tote bags, painting, clay or pottery, and jewelry making with Shrinky Dinks. Come ready to create and take home something uniquely yours!
Socials and Clubs
Teen Social Club
July 15th: 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM
John M. Harper Branch
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Program
Through fun and engaging team activities, you'll grow as a leader, sharpen your public speaking skills, explore your creativity with technology, and discover possible future careers. You'll also learn how to communicate more effectively and get involved in meaningful community service.
Crafts and Hobbies
Teen Crafternoon
July 26th: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
McCormick Branch
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Program
Love getting crafty in the afternoon? Spend some creative time working on fun hands-on projects like tie-dye, t-shirt tote bags, painting, clay or pottery, and jewelry making with Shrinky Dinks. Come ready to create and take home something uniquely yours!
Special Events
Film Screening: "Don't Be Nice"
July 29th: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Main Library
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Event
Come watch the powerful and thought-provoking film, Don't Be Nice, an emotional and inspiring documentary that dives deep into issues of race, gender, identity, and sexual politics in America today. It’s more than just a competition documentary—it’s also a moving look at a group of poets working through real and difficult conversations in a writer's workshop, all while trying to make a meaningful impact through their words.
Socials and Clubs
Teen Social Club
August 5th: 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM
John M. Harper Branch
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Program
Through fun and engaging team activities, you'll grow as a leader, sharpen your public speaking skills, explore your creativity with technology, and discover possible future careers. You'll also learn how to communicate more effectively and get involved in meaningful community service.
Socials and Clubs
Share a Book, Swap a Book
August 5th: 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM
Main Library
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Program
Is there a book that impacted you that you think others would benefit from reading? In this program, we'll bring in our personal copies of a book that is meaningful to us (but we are willing to part with), and discuss why we loved it and why others should read it, with a “show and tell” segment. Then, we’ll swap our favourite “must read” and other favourites with one another.
Crafts and Hobbies
Learn to Cricut for Teens
August 6th: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Eastside Branch
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Program
Curious about how Cricut machines work? This program gives teens a chance to learn the basics with a hands-on tutorial and plenty of time to experiment.
Crafts and Hobbies
Learn to Cricut for Teens
August 13th: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Eastside Branch
Age Group: Teens
Registration required
About the Program
Curious about how Cricut machines work? This program gives teens a chance to learn the basics with a hands-on tutorial and plenty of time to experiment.
