eBranch Blog

September 04, 2007

Over 100,000 Participate in HCPL Kid's and Teen's Summer Reading Program

Harris County Public Library young readers had an extremely busy and exciting summer. For the first time more than 100,000 children and teens (103,713 to be exact!) participated in our Summer Reading Program activities. Younger children?s programming followed the Sail Away with Books theme sponsored by the Texas State Library and Archive Commission?s Texas Reading Club. Teen programs had their own theme, Read TV. The number of readers completing the requirement to be awarded a certificate was also up this year. After registering and reporting completion of a minimum of ten books, 500 pages, or five hours 11,222 young readers were recognized for their achievement. Many went on to read even more books over the summer with branches sharing that some readers passed the 100 books or equivalent mark. Library program attendance increased as well with the 26 branches and the eBranch presenting 2,815 special programs and storytimes for 78,266 children and teens.

A big thank you goes out to the 2007 Summer Reading Program Supporters: Comcast, Randall?s Food Markets, the Simmons Foundation and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Without their assistance in publicizing, promoting, and implementing our activities we would certainly not have been able to reach as many young people this summer. Be sure to view the slide show to get a sample of the good times that were had.

Library staff members jumped on the chance to have fun this summer. The branches and administrative offices got into the spirit with All Decked Out Day in June, Harry Potter activities in July, and Aloha Summer Week in August. Congratulations to Summer Reading Program Coordinator Monique Franklin, the Variety Show Committee, and the Teen Summer Reading Planning Committee for their hard work in ensuring a memorable summer. Two weeks after the close of Summer Reading 2007 we are already starting the planning for next year. We hope that many children and teens have learned that their neighborhood branch of Harris County Public Library offers them so much more than a resource for their school assignments. The Library is a year round destination for information and fun.