Events
at East Central Regional Library
CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
East Central Regional Library hosts a variety of events, storytimes, and other programs across the region. Check out upcoming events happening near you on the Events Calendar.
ANNUAL EVENTS
East Central Regional Library hosts several reading-focused region-wide events throughout the year. Find information on these events below.
ECRL READS
The 2026 ECRL Reads title is The French Winemaker’s Daughter, by Minnesota author Loretta Ellsworth!
Author visits with Loretta Ellsworth:
Thursday, November 12 at 6pm in Cambridge
Saturday, November 14 at 10am in McGregor
Saturday, November 14 at 1pm in Mora
Tuesday, November 17 at 6pm in Hinckley
Saturday, November 21 at 10:30am in Milaca
Tuesday, November 24 at 6pm in Rush City
Past ECRL Reads selections include:
2025- Big in Sweden By Sally Franson
2023- The Twenty-Ninth Day by Alex Messenger
2022- Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman
2021- The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
2019 – Virgil Wander by Lief Enger
2018 – The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb
2017 – Ice-Out by Mary Casanova
SUMMER DISCOVERY PROGRAM
June 1 - August 15, 2026
The 2026 Summer Discovery Program at East Central Regional Library will begin on Monday, June 1 and run through Saturday, August 15, 2026. This year’s theme is Unearth a Story! East Central Regional Library hopes you will participate by joining us on Beanstack and at local events all across the region this summer.
The Summer Discovery Program is open to readers of all ages- kids, teens, and adults!
Register to participate by visiting your local ECRL branch, downloading the free Beanstack Tracker app (App Store for iOS devices or Google Play Store for Android devices), or by visiting ECRL’s Beanstack online. Readers will be able to sign up, track their reading, complete activities, and earn entries for local and regional prize drawings all through Beanstack.
Registration will open in May.
We’ll have plenty of programs happening across the region this summer! Find programs happening at your local library by visiting our Events Calendar.
Special programming can be found on our Events Calendar:
Opening Program: Kenny Ahern, Physical Comedy
Outreach Opener: Snake Discovery, Live Animals
Closer Program: ‘Unearth A Story’ with the Science Museum of Minnesota!
Winter Tales
Log your minutes, write book reviews, and complete reading activity challenges in the Beanstack app for your chance to win prizes!
This program is intended for adults, but patrons ages 12+ are welcome to participate as well.
January 1 – February 28, 2026.
Here’s how it works:
- Register for a Beanstack account online OR register on the Beanstack Tracker mobile app (Android or Apple).
- Enroll in the Winter Tales Reading Challenge.
- Start reading books, logging your minutes, writing reviews, and completing activities!
Each badge you earn will get you an entry into our prize drawings!6
The program is sponsored by East Central Regional Library, local Friends of the Library groups, and other local organizations.
READING CHALLENGES
East Central Regional Library hosts fun reading challenges throughout the year on the free Beanstack Tracker app. Learn more about the current reading challenges below.
BEANSTACK
Getting started:
Access Beanstack by visiting ecrlib.beanstack.org to view the desktop version, or by downloading the Beanstack Tracker app on your smart phone or tablet.
Current Reading Challenges:
Unearth a Story!
June 1-August 15, 2026
Log your reading and complete fun activities to earn tickets for local and regional prize drawings!
Enroll in the reading challenge in the free Beanstack app or online today!