Discover Summer for Teens

You are invited to Discover Summer with DC Public Library from June 17 - Aug. 31. Discover Summer is an all-ages city-wide celebration of reading and learning. With Discover Summer you will enjoy great reads, fun events and activities that encourage you to explore your neighborhood and D.C. Everything you need to Discover Summer can be found at your neighborhood library!

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Art is a powerful tool to share social messages and inspire change. Visual artists like Shepard Fairey, musicians like Beyonce and authors like Mira Jacob have used their creative voices to speak truth to power and raise awareness of the important issues facing us today. Pepco, the DC Public Library Foundation and DC Public Library invite you to find your power and use it to creatively address a topic that is important to you. What change would you like to see in the world? We are calling on youth between the ages of 13 - 19 to use their creative voice to make a difference. 

Between May 22 and Aug. 15, submit an original work of writing, photography, film, visual art, or music that expresses your feelings on a social issue that matters to you.  We’re looking for pieces that are not only well-crafted but have a strong voice and perspective on a subject pertaining to civic engagement.

Winners will be selected in the categories of Visual Art, Writing, Music, and Film & Photography. Entries will be judged by representatives from Pepco and D.C. Public Library's Teen Council.

Learn more and Submit Your Piece of Art to the Know Your Power Teen Art Contest

Stop by your neighborhood library for fun events all summer long! See some highlights below and click the button to see all events for teens.

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Get Loud at Library Concerts

This summer, DC Public Library is full of great live music featuring local groups! Groove to Go-Go music at the Go-Go on the Rooftop Concer Series, rock out at the DC Punk Archive Library Rooftop shows, take in beautiful chamber music and much more. 

See Upcoming Musical Performances

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Meet Your Favorite Author

Hear from best-selling and award-winning authors, including Emmy award-winning Fiona Dawson, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Wesley Lowery and best-selling Tia Williams. At many of these events you can pick up a FREE copy of the title courtesy of the DC Public Library Foundation (while supplies last).

See Upcoming Author Talks 

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Join the Hottest Clubs in Town

DC Public Library has a book club for nearly every interest! Join the legendary Well-Read Black Girl Book Club hosted by Glory Edim, keep it short and sweet with the Long Story Short Book Club, enjoy Young Adult fiction at the I Never Wanna Grow Up Book Club and more.

See All DC Public Library Book Clubs  

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Create Something New

Flex your creative muscles at your neighbohood library! Learn how to use a sewing machine, draft your first novel, meet up with fellow knitters or fix your hand-me-down blender at a Fix-It Clinic. Find the right class for you by clicking the filtered views below.

See Upcoming Makers & DIY Programs See Upcoming Arts & Crafts Programs  See Upcoming Writing Programs

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Enjoy Blockbuster Films

Stop by the library for screenings of recent blockbusters like Top Gun Maverick, thought-provoking documentaries like I Am Not Your Negro and classics like High Noon.

See Upcoming Film Screenings 

See All Upcoming Events for Teens

Summer break is a great time to read for fun and build a healthy reading habit. Creating a reading habit is easy, you just have to read for 20 minutes a day! To get you started, DC Public Schools and DC Public Library have selected some great reads by age range below.