The Muskingum County Library System’s “Unearth A Story” Summer Reading Program was a massive success with readers amassing a total of 3,355,828 minutes read throughout the two-month program, which concluded on July 31.
“Our community definitely showed up and participated and read a lot,” said Sean Fennell, MCLS Marketing & Community Relations Director. “It warms my heart every time I think about how much people participated this year. We’re going to have to set a really crazy goal next year, so I apologize to everyone in advance that we’re going to have an even bigger goal next year to really challenge our community, because everybody really proved that they are not only up to the challenge, but beyond that as well.”
Many families participated in the challenge. Through the Beanstack app, family members can compete and see who has read the most each week, adding a little friendly competition at home.
“We have about twice the amount of youth readers that we do adult readers,” mentioned Fennell. “One of the most important things that we’ve done recently with summer reading is expanding that to all ages, because we understand that literacy and lifelong learning and being a library patron, those are all things that are learned from the adults in children’s lives.”
2,839 People registered for summer reading at MCLS. The annual challenge allows library patrons of all ages to register for the program and log minutes read in order to gain digital badges, reach milestones that earn tickets that can be entered toward prize drawings, as well as pick up weekly rewards for logging minutes each week.
“You know, we do have our weekly prizes for kids and adults to come in and pick up every week so that we are really making sure that folks have that incentive to visit because we want to see you more. Obviously, participating online is awesome too. You can participate in summer reading without ever having to step foot inside a building,” said Fennell.
The challenge is about promoting learning throughout the summer no matter the age, but especially for children to help prevent summer slide.
“It is proven as a very effective strategy to prevent that summer slide where kids just lose abilities over the summer because they don’t practice them. You know, I mean, practice makes perfect, and reading and literacy is a skill which must be continually practiced throughout the rest of a person’s life to maintain and grow,” Fennell explained.
The prize drawings for summer reading have taken place, and the winners have been contacted. Although one challenge is done for now, others are planned throughout the year, each earning readers different badges and perks. Right now, a Back-to-School Challenge is active for school-age children, the 1000 Books Before Third Grade Reading Challenge, and the year-long Read Your Socks Off Challenge (open to all ages) takes place until the end of the year. Look for challenges monthly on the Beanstack App or stop by the library to participate.
In addition to reading challenges, the MCLS always has something engaging, educational, and fun planned for a variety of ages and interests at the John McIntire Library and all five branches. Be sure to frequently check the event calendar on the MCLS website.
For further information, visit muskingumlibrary.org
CAPTION: A budding reader looks through a selection of books in the children’s room at the John McIntire Library. PHOTO CREDIT: Daegan Lusk Media
