Summer days are winding down, local families are preparing to get back into the swing of school routines, and librarians all over St. Johns County are taking a long, deep breath after an amazing summer full of fun at the library!
Over the course of the summer, thousands of kids and teens participated in the St. Johns County Public Library System’s summer reading program, “The Best Summer.” As they tracked their progress using reading logs, kids checked in at their local libraries for awesome weekly prizes.
Along with focusing on keeping kids’ reading skills sharp, library staff presented exciting library programs to keep kids engaged and entertained. Over 19,000 kids and their families attended library programs throughout St. Johns County in June and July! Weekly art classes, animal encounters, magic shows, robotics, space camp, tabletop gaming… there was never a dull day this summer at the library.
“I think this was just about our busiest and most fun year ever!” remarked Akilah Pickett, Youth Services Assistant at the Southeast Branch Library, as she wrapped up the “Rock the Galaxy” end of summer party at the end of July.
Adult readers were inspired to read more this year, too. SJCPLS had 3,472 entries into the library’s adult summer reading contest. Adults attended programs, submitted book reviews, and downloaded eContent for a chance to win a $150 VISA gift card.
It really was “The Best Summer” at the library, and your local librarians are already hard at work making plans for next year. In the meantime, be sure to check out all the resources available on the library’s website to support you during the school year.
With six full service branch libraries throughout the county, two traveling bookmobiles, and a beautiful, user-friendly website, using and supporting your library is easier than ever. To learn more about the library system, visit www.sjcpls.org.