Library wraps up successful Summer Reading Program

The Library of Graham’s Summer Reading Program ended its long run Wednesday with a total of 176 registered readers devoting 3,320 hours of reading time to the program.

Those who participate had the opportunity to read 10 hours and get a certificate from the library and out of 176 who participated, 99 received certificates. Despite the program, which began May 23, having fewer kids participate this year than in 2015, Sherri Gibson, library director, said the program still was a success.

“We had less kids registered this year … we had a 176 this year and 220 last year, but we had more kids that read on regular basis and they read almost as many hours,” Gibson said. “This year was 3,320 (hours) as compared to last year’s 3,435.”

Natalie Baeza was the top reader this year, with a total of 122 total hours read during the program. Airiana Grard, Ezikeal Pardo and Zoey Price tied for second, each with a total of 118 hours read.

For every two hours read, a participant was eligible to receive a book and the library personally handed out more than 1,500 books this summer. According to Gibson, the program is meant to encourage kids to continue reading while they are out of school.

“It gets them to read in the summer when they’re normally going to just veg out in front of their games, the TV or go to the pool. So, they are building their reading skills over the summer instead of going to school having not opened a book since they left,” Gibson said. “We had reluctant readers who had to be helped and the prizes drew them in here. You don’t have to be reading to come to the programs and they give kids exposure to something they wouldn’t normally have the chance to see, the animals, the magic.”

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