Live Oak Public Libraries is proud to announce record participation and completions for this year's Annual Summer Reading Challenge. 

Nearly 6,000 signed up for the Challenge across the total LOPL system, a 20+% increase over last year's sign ups. The total number of readers of all ages who completed ten hours of reading between June 1 and July 31st increased 9% over 2023. 

Readers of all ages were invited to sign up at any of LOPL's sixteen branches for the Challenge. This year's theme was Adventure Begins at Your Library.

Challenge participants tracked reading time and activities to earn prizes as they progressed over the summer. Everyone who completed 10 hours by July 31 won a prize and a chance to win a Grand Prize suitable to their age group. Grand Prize winners were announced earlier this month. 

During the same time period, LOPL held nearly 1,000 free programs and events, with more than 28,000 participants of all ages.

"We set a goal to increase participation at all age levels this year and I am excited to report that our efforts exceeded expectations," said Executive Director, Lola Shelton-Council. "We know that families visiting the library and reading together generates lifelong benefits for everyone."

"I am especially pleased to see the increased completion rate. It is a clear indication that all the work our staff does to keep readers engaged and encouraged is working."

Live Oak Public Libraries encourages you to visit your local library branch and reminds parents, teachers and students in public schools that through its Student Play Program, any child's public school lunch or identification number can also be used as a fines-free library card in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties.