Cayuga Reads, a collaborative effort of library staff and educators in Cayuga County, began in 2006. That year, the book selection was Nickel and Dimed: on (not) getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. In 2007, the book selection was The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. In 2008, the book selected was The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.

In 2009, the Cayuga Reads committee has chosen Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and events will begin in October.