CONTACT: Nelson Mitchell, Public Relations & Marketing
Phone: 602.652.3045
Fax: 602.652.3071
Cell: 602.432.2423
E-mail: NelsonMitchell@mcldaz.org
READING PROGRAM GREAT DIVERSION FOR LONG, HOT SUMMER
While some children were sweating during the oppressive heat of summer, others were hunkered down in a nice, cool library with lots of fun stuff to do.
More than 63,000 children and adults enjoyed participating in Maricopa County Library District’s Summer Reading Program. The phenomenal individual turn-out was punctuated by more than 94,000 book and article reviews submitted by program participants.
“We continue to be amazed, excited and pleased by the success of the Library District’s Summer Reading Program,” said Max Wilson, Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. “Our goal is to be a strong advocate for literacy and encourage families to continue to expand their love of reading, especially during the summer. It appears that we’ve been successful doing just that,” he surmised.
Library District affiliate libraries in Wickenburg, Mesa, Buckeye, Tolleson, Youngtown, and Cave Creek also hosted customers during the nine-week program. Each library sculpted and designed its own unique summer activities for the residents of its community around the central theme of “Be Creative @ Your Library”.
“Not only did the Summer Reading Program (SRP) welcome readers, but it brought to the libraries an array of authors, jugglers, cartoonists, teachers, dogs, and magicians, among many other performers and visitors,” said Amy Williams, Summer Reading coordinator. “We were delighted to provide numerous multi-sensory experiences to SRP participants,” she added.
Each group of participants was challenged with reading goals toward a grand prize. Babies had a 47% completion rate; children had a 41% completion rate; and teens had a completion rate of 50%. According to Williams, these are the highest completion percentages that any of the groups have achieved. Last year, the cumulative completion rate was around 34%.
Each person who completed the program became eligible to receive a free book to be selected from 65 different titles. Nearly 9,800 program-completion vouchers were redeemed for books.
Form more information about ongoing Library District services and programs, please visit www.mcldaz.org.
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