Nearly 20,000 Indianapolis Area Youth Participating in The Indianapolis Public Library’s Summer Reading Program
It’s not too late for kids and families to register for The Indianapolis Public Library’s 2024 Summer Reading Program, which continues through Saturday, July 31 at all IndyPL locations.
As of July 1, 19,930 kids are actively participating by logging reading time. In addition, 2,883 adults are participating in Adult Summer Reading. The Indianapolis community as a whole has read a total of 13,140,548 minutes, keeping The Indianapolis Public Library on track to meet its community reading goal of 18 million minutes read by the end of the summer.
Among these readers are Marki Jared and her two daughters who regularly visit the Irvington Branch.
Reflecting on her own childhood, she recalls participating in a similar program that rewarded reading with pizza. She now enjoys watching her children create new memories at The Library.
“The [Summer Reading Program] has become a tradition in our family. We do it every summer. They love The Library and we visit a couple of times a week,” said Jared.
This year, The Library is partnering with IndyHumane for a pet-themed Summer Reading Program wherein the IndyHumane Pet Adoption Wagon will be at select Library branches throughout July. The wagon allows children and parents to meet adoptable pets looking for their forever homes.
“Indy Humane values this partnership with The Library as it enables us to engage with the community and bring our pets to where families are,” said Katie Trennepohl, Program Manager with IndyHumane. “It’s an excellent way to raise awareness around the city, and we are thrilled to announce that, so far, two pets have found their forever homes thanks to this collaboration.”
Throughout the month, there are workshops and storytelling programs that provide participants with opportunities to connect with peers and explore new interests. More than 4,828 kids have attended a summer program or workshop, with more opportunities throughout July. This is more than double the number of program attendees at the same time last year.
Marki Jared’s seven-year-old daughter has attended various summer reading programs this year, noting that her favorite was a woodworking class.
“We're receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback for our summer programs,” said Devery North, school-age and family program specialist at The Indianapolis Public Library. “Our animal programs are always popular, but we've also had a great response for our Pets Rock program. One patron found our Bilingual Family Concert with 123 Andrés particularly special. They appreciated that it was truly bilingual, not just a few Spanish words sprinkled in. Andrés and Cristina were genuinely warm, engaging, and enthusiastic about interacting with audience members.”
The Summer Reading Program allows participants to receive prizes for their reading activity and enjoy workshops, classes, crafts, and storytelling programs throughout the summer. If the community reaches 18 million minutes read this summer, all readers who logged reading time will be entered into grand prize drawings at the end of the program.
Prizes for the children's summer reading program include snacks, toys, a ticket to an Indianapolis Indians game, pizza from Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, and passes to popular attractions such as the Children's Museum of Indianapolis haunted house, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. Grand prizes include Nintendo Switch consoles, Amazon Gift cards, one of two Indiana529 Direct Savings Plans, and more. Adults can join Adult Summer Reading to earn prizes such as a collapsible water bottle and a book-themed sticker.
The Summer Reading Program encourages participants to give back by donating books to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis. Drop off donations at any Indianapolis Public Library branch through August 3.
It’s not too late for kids and families to still register for The Indianapolis Public Library’s 2024 Summer Reading Program, which continues through Wednesday, July 31 at all IndyPL locations.
Children's programming at The Library is presented by Friends of the Library through gifts to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. Major Sponsors include 92.3 WTTS, Everwise Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation Library Fund, Dr. Sherri Lauver and Dr. Kevin Biglan, Lilly Endowment Inc., Live Nation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, PNC Foundation, Dr. Betty Routledge, Mary Frances Rubly & Jerry Hummer, and G. Marlyne Sexton. Supporting Sponsors include Indiana529 Savings Plan, Citizens Energy Group, Corteva Agriscience, FORVIS, Indianapolis Indians Charities, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc., Office of the Lawrence Township Trustee Steve Talley, and OneAmerica®.
Visit our summer reading program page for more information.
Media Contact: Keshia McEntire, Public Relations Manager, kmcentire@indypl.org