INDIANAPOLIS — Preliminary figures indicate that 51,119 young readers experienced the joy of reading during The Indianapolis Public Library’s 2016 Summer Reading Program, “The Summer Reading Book Bash,” which concluded at the end of July. Led by everyone’s favorite cartoon feline, Garfield, this year’s event included program offerings that allowed participants to celebrate Indiana’s 200th birthday in 2016.
Children and families read more than half a million books throughout the eight-week program, while earning a variety of free prizes generously donated by community supporters for their reading activity.
With reduced services at several IndyPL branches undergoing renovation along with a repurposing of the Library’s bookmobile services, overall participation was down approximately 10 percent compared to 2015. However, several branches saw significant increases, including the Spades Park Branch (31 percent), East Thirty-Eighth Street Branch (28 percent), InfoZone at The Children’s Museum (15 percent), Eagle Branch (6.2 percent), Irvington Branch (3.3 percent) and the Fountain Square Branch (2.1 percent). Most other branches maintained similar reading levels from 2015 or experienced only slight decreases in participation.
One of this year’s special incentive prizes was a drawing for two 529 college savings accounts worth $529 each, sponsored by CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan. Winners were 12-year-old Hirat Morgan-Opasanya, a Wayne Branch patron; and six-year-old Devyn Travis, a patron of the Lawrence Branch.
For more information on the 2016 Summer Reading Program or other Library literacy programs for children, call 275-4099 or visit www.indypl.org.
