Library of the Chathams Celebrates Summer Reading Success: 13,046 Books Read, Nearly 30% Increase

This summer, the Library of the Chathams gave children, teens, and adults plenty of reasons to put down their phones, step away from screens, pick up a book and come to the library.

The Library's summer reading program brought the community together for friendly competition and fun. Designed to make reading engaging and rewarding at every age, the program encouraged participants to set reading goals, track their progress, and enjoy the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good book.

Subscribe

The results speak for themselves. Compared with last summer, participation in the children's program increased by 10%, while the number of books read increased by an impressive 29.2%.

Also, nearly 300 people came together for the Library's Summer Reading Picnic, creating a celebration that extended beyond the pages and into the community. The strong turnout reflects the Library's role as not only as a place to find books, but as a place where residents can connect, have fun, and feel part of their community.

In a world competing for attention from video games, YouTube, streaming, and social media, the Library intentionally made summer reading feel less like an assignment and more like an experience. Prizes, challenges, incentives, and a sense of camaraderie helped keep participants motivated, while the Library itself provided something equally important: a safe, welcoming place where young people and families could spend time, explore their interests, and grow as readers.

The program also gave local teens and tweens an opportunity to give back. Sixty teen and tween volunteers contributed their time and energy, listening to book reports and adding to the welcoming, community-centered atmosphere of the program.

"Our Summer Reading Club is about so much more than keeping children reading over the summer." said Jaime Sabonya, Head, Youth Services. "It's about helping them discover new stories, explore their interests, and experience the joy of choosing a book that captures their imagination. The library is especially energetic during the summer, with children and families coming through our doors every day to participate in our reading program, attend fun and engaging programs, and discover something new. There's such a wonderful sense of excitement and community throughout the library, and it's rewarding to see children making memories while developing a lifelong love of reading."

For children and teens especially, summer can be a time when reading habits can easily take a back seat to digital entertainment. And adults joined in, too, reading nearly 70% more this year than last, demonstrating that the joy of summer reading isn't limited by age.

The Library's summer reading success reflects its broader mission to provide the community with free access to books, events that bring the community together, resources residents rely on, and welcoming spaces for all.

"We aim to combine reading comprehension skills with fun," said Laurel Monks, Children's Program Coordinator. "It's about creating positive experiences around reading and giving children a reason to keep coming back. We want the library to be a place where people feel welcome, where curiosity is encouraged, and where reading is something to look forward to."

The Library of the Chathams thanks everyone who participated, supported the program, donated prizes, volunteered their time, and helped make this summer a celebration of reading.

Because sometimes the best way to compete with a screen is to offer something even better: a great story, a welcoming place, and a community to share it with.