This year’s Summer Reading program through the Oneida County Library came to a celebratory end at the City Park on Tuesday, July 18.  After a busy summer of reading, awards were given out for those who read the most hours, and all the participants and their parents were treated to a lunch provided by Liberty Meat and Schreiber Cheese.  Over 331 kids signed up for the summer reading program, and 225 of them submitted final hours for the contest.  After lunch, kids enjoyed a Foam fountain, carriage rides, train rides, the splash pad, and other fun activities.  The library staff, who have been hands-on with the project all summer, were on hand to help facilitate the event.

This year’s overall winner by hours was Brian Young, who read an amazing 228 hours over the course of the event.  The remaining members of the top 5 were William Whipple (225 hours), Hannah Anderson (133), Jaquelynn Young (130), and Thatcher Sweeten (117).

The readers were also divided into age groups, with the top 5 0-4 year olds being Olive Thomas (36 hours), Max Baer (35), Uriah Monico (34), Sully Alder (29), and Lucy Clark (25).  In the 5-11 year olds, the top readers were: Brian Young (228), Thatcher Sweeten (117), Orson Rogers (110), Sam Rogers (90), and Caroline Whipple (84).  The top 5 12-18 readers were: William Whipple (225), Hannah Anderson (133), Jaquelynn Young (130), Winona Young (116) and Doris Young (115).

This year’s summer reading was funded by a number of grants.  The Idaho Commission for Libraries provided $2,000 for supplies, the Bistline Foundation provided $5,000, and the Future Fund provided $10,000.  This money was used to purchase books distributed to the readers, supplies for the creation of their own books, and art supplies.  During the course of the summer, the participants wrote and provided art to accompany their own stories using the supplies.  Play Doh and sculpting clay were used to create art in conjunction with the writing projects.  

Last year, participants read a total of 5,091 hours.  This year’s total was more than twenty-five percent higher at 6,614 hours.  The number of kids involved also increased from last year’s totals.

0-4 year olds who read at least 20 hours were recognized: Olive Thomas (36), Max Baer (35), Uriah Monico (34), Sully Alder (29), Lucy Clark (25), Oakley Denning (23), Glorianna Monico (23), Wyatt Kidder (22), Harold Young (22), Tabitha Young (22), Julie Clark (20), Tylee Clark (20), Dallas Hansen (20), Brixten Price (20), Janelee Probst (20), and Makai Probst (20).

5-11 year olds recognized for reading at least 40 hours were: Brian Young (228), Thatcher Sweeten(117), Orson Rogers (110), Sam Rogers (90), Caroline Whipple (84), Dempsey Firth (80), Liam Atkinson (75), Victoria Anderson (70), Vivienne Atkinson (70), Camilla Anderson (69), Olivia Briscoe (65), Eva Coleman (52), Ragnhild Fesler (60), Jack Coleman (52), Ava Fesler (52), Tyker Hamilton (50), Riggin Jensen (48), Brittyn Venable (48), Ambria deJong (47), Hadley Evanson (44), Maverik Lewis (43), Riker Jones (42), Kimber Phillips (41), Helenna Kronvall (40), Mariah Kronvall (40).

12-18 year old recognized for reading at least 50 hours were: William Whipple (225), Hannah Anderson (133), Jaquelynn Young 130), Winona young (116), Doris Young (115), Aspen Allen (109), Joy Butler (103), Serena Whipple (100), Samuel Young (82), Kaycee Phillips (56), Tnna Butler (56), Vivian Young (53), Dominic Monico (52), Sarah Young (50).