Nearly 7,000 people signed up for the summer reading program, and close to 3,300 of the participants read 1,000 minutes or more.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Nearly 7,000 people participated in the annual Summer Reading Challenge in Scottsdale this year—an increase from last year.
The Summer Reading Challenge, which libraries all across Maricopa County participated in, allows participants a way to earn prizes for time spent reading. This year, the Scottsdale Public Library saw close to 3,300 of the 7,000 participants read for more than 1,000 minutes or more.
Seven million minutes of reading were recorded throughout the summer.
“We are thrilled to see how Scottsdale residents embraced this year’s Summer Reading Challenge,” Library Department Director Mike Beck said in a news release. “The strong participation in both reading and programs for all ages shows just how much our community values lifelong learning and literacy.”
The library also hosted 200 free programs for toddlers, children, teens and adults throughout the summer, providing more than 7,500 people with activities like art workshops, book discussion groups and live music performances.
The Kids Café at Civic Center Library also provided more than 3,700 free lunches for kids and teens. The program is offered in partnership with the Scottsdale Unified School District and provides youth with nutritious meals during the summer, when school is not in session.
There are four branches of the Scottsdale Public Library to enjoy all year long, not just during the summer:
- Civic Center Library
- Mustang Library
- Arabian Library
- Appaloosa Library
To learn more about the Scottsdale Public Library and the services it provides, you can visit the website.
For more book and literacy stories, check out “Reading Arizona” on YouTube and 12News.com. If you have a story pitch for Reading Arizona, email koconnor@12news.com or reach out via Instagram, @thatjournalistwhoreads.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere, thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.”
Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Reading Arizona
Go beyond the TV broadcast and learn more about all things books in State 48 on the 12News app and YouTube channel. Subscribe for more digital-exclusive content!