INDIANAPOLIS — More than 48,000 children and families read 949,839 books during The Indianapolis Public Library’s 2017 Summer Reading Program, “Read It & Eat.” In addition to earning points for their reading activity that could be exchanged for reward prizes, children earned points by donating non-perishable food items to Gleaners Food Bank to feed hungry Hoosiers.
Preliminary totals show this year’s participants read 15,414 more books than in 2016 and donated 3,002 pounds of food to Gleaners, equating to 2,502 meals for the hungry. Several IndyPL branches noticed large increases in overall summer reading participation from 2016, including the Brightwood Branch (13%), College Avenue Branch (9%), Flanner House Branch (9%), Warren Branch (8%) and Fountain Square Branch (4.5%). The Library’s Bookmobile service noted a 4% increase. The Southport Branch (25%) and East Washington Branch (125%) also saw increases, mainly due to their reduced services during renovations in 2016.
Attendance at youth workshops related to the Summer Reading Program increased by 15% over 2016.
Registered summer readers were eligible for a drawing to win two college savings accounts worth $529 from CollegeChoice CD. The winners are 10-year-old Orlando Ross, whose home branch is the Brightwood Branch, and eight-year-old Roosevelt Williamson from the Flanner House Branch. Young readers from each IndyPL location will be chosen to receive tickets to an Indianapolis Colts home game, as well as a grand prize winner to receive a VIP 4-pack to a Colts home game.
For more information on IndyPL programs for youth and families, call 317-275-4099 or visit indypl.org.
