For Immediate Release
October 1, 2014
Participants Read Over 50,000 Books this Summer
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. Read any good books lately? If Santa Clara County Library District’s (SCCLD) final Summer Reading Program tally is any indication, the answer is a resounding “yes!” More than 15,000 participants read over 50,000 books in three months, representing an 18% increase over last year’s results.
“We had a tremendous turnout,” stated Karen Apland, SCCLD Supervising Librarian for Bookmobile Services. “In fact, the Bookmobile experienced a 593% increase in Summer Reading Program registration from 2013.” The Bookmobile serves some of the most remote areas of Santa Clara County, including Mt. Hamilton, Moffett Field, migrant worker camps near Gilroy and communities in the Santa Cruz mountains. “Bringing books and the love of reading to groups with limited access to libraries is a rewarding feeling,” continued Apland.
This year’s Summer Reading Program themes focused on science, and offered something for everyone, including:
- “Fizz, Boom, Read” (a reading program for parents and their pre-readers)
- Children: “Fizz, Boom, Read” (a reading program for children between the ages of 0-12)
- Preteens: “Make It Pop” (a reading program for children in grades 5 – 7 )
- Teens: “Spark a Reaction” (a reading program for teens between the ages of 13 – 18)
- Adults: “Literary Elements” (a reading program for adults 18 years or older)
In addition to reading and logging books, individuals and families were invited to attend more than 290 free science-themed programs, events and activities offered at all SCCLD locations this summer. More than 17,000 people attended at least one of these programs.
“Encouraging kids to read what they want, when they want is powerful,” stated Gail Mason, SCCLD Library Services Manager and Summer Reading Program coordinator. “Santa Clara County Library District is here to help kids maintain or even boost those hard-won reading skills through developing a daily reading habit, satisfying curiosity beyond the bounds of the school-year curriculum and discovering new interests,” Mason concluded.
About the Santa Clara County Library District
Known as one of America’s best 100 public libraries, the Santa Clara County Library District promotes knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment. Its collection includes more than 1.9 million books, videos, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, eBooks and extensive online resources accessible from home or work.
For eleven years, the Library has ranked as one of the best in the nation for its size by Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings. Also recognized as one of America’s 2013 Star Libraries by Library Journal, the Santa Clara County Library District is one of the most-used public resources in the region.
The Santa Clara County Library District includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library serving Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. In 2013, the Santa Clara County Library District had more than 215,000 library cardholders and welcomed 3.2 million visitors who borrowed 9.7 million items. Visit Santa Clara County Library District online at www.sccl.org.
Contact:
Derek Wolfgram/Mark Fink/Lili Smith
Santa Clara County Library District
(408) 293-2326 ext. 3002/3010/3014
