Santa Clara County Library's 2014 Summer Reading Program A Success

Read any good books lately? If Santa Clara County Library District’s (SCCLD) final Summer Reading Program tally is any indication, the answer is a resounding “yes!”

More than 15,000 participants read over 50,000 books in three months, representing an 18% increase over last year’s results.

“We had a tremendous turnout,” stated Karen Apland, SCCLD Supervising Librarian for Bookmobile Services. “In fact, the Bookmobile experienced a 593% increase in Summer Reading Program registration from 2013.”

The Bookmobile serves some of the most remote areas of Santa Clara County, including Mt. Hamilton, Moffett Field, migrant worker camps near Gilroy and communities in the Santa Cruz mountains.

“Bringing books and the love of reading to groups with limited access to libraries is a rewarding feeling,” continued Apland.

This year’s Summer Reading Program themes focused on science, and offered something for everyone, including:

· “Fizz, Boom, Read” (a reading program for parents and their pre-readers)

· Children: “Fizz, Boom, Read” (a reading program for children between the ages of 0-12)

· Preteens: “Make It Pop” (a reading program for children in grades 5 – 7 )

· Teens: “Spark a Reaction” (a reading program for teens between the ages of 13 – 18)

· Adults: “Literary Elements” (a reading program for adults 18 years or older)

In addition to reading and logging books, individuals and families were invited to attend more than 290 free science-themed programs, events and activities offered at all SCCLD locations this summer. More than 17,000 people attended at least one of these programs.

“Encouraging kids to read what they want, when they want is powerful,” stated Gail Mason, SCCLD Library Services Manager and Summer Reading Program coordinator.

“Santa Clara County Library District is here to help kids maintain or even boost those hard-won reading skills through developing a daily reading habit, satisfying curiosity beyond the bounds of the school-year curriculum and discovering new interests,” Mason concluded.

--Information courtesy of the Santa Clara County Library District

--Image via Shutterstock