Thursday, August 22, 2024

Livingston Parish Library patrons logged more than 76,000 books – nearly 1,000 per day – during a record-breaking Summer Reading Program challenge.  

This summer, the Library set all-time highs for the number of SRP registrations and completions, as well as the record for highest SRP event attendance. 

The LPL’s Summer Reading Program awards prizes to readers of all ages for reading books and attending Library events during the summer months.  

This year’s Summer Reading Program ran May 20 – August 4. The theme was “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”  

“This was an unforgettable summer, with one adventure after adventure,” said Livingston Parish Library Director Michelle Parrish. “Our Summer Reading Program continues to get bigger and more successful, and that is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible staff. 

“We try to offer as much as possible, because we want people of all ages and interests to feel like there is something for them at the Library. Summer Reading has become something our patrons look forward to every year, and we are thrilled by this year’s response, because it once again shows that Livingston Parish values and treasures its library system. We are proud to serve this community.” 

To view a video recap of this year’s Summer Reading Program, click here. To view photos of some of this year's events and performances, click here.

SRP registrations, completions 

Approximately 4,800 patrons registered for this year’s Summer Reading Program, including 3,269 who completed the challenge. To complete the SRP challenge, a patron must read a certain number of books or attend a certain number of library events, depending on the age group they fall within. 

SRP participants logged approximately 76,573 books this summer. That equates to 994 books each day (77 total days) or 41 books per hour (1,848 total hours) for the duration of the Summer Reading Program. 

Attendance 

As always, the Library’s Summer Reading Program was loaded with fun activities and events for all ages and interests. This summer, the Library lined up more than 350 performances, concerts, shows, workshops, storytimes, and so much more! 

The total attendance for this year’s SRP events exceeded 15,000. 

Featured children’s events and performers this summer included LA Snake ID, Drum Life, Youth Ballet, Didgeridoo Down Under, Hey Now Hooping, Heidi Lindsley, the TMM Project, Harvey Rabbit, Louisiana State Parks, Crescent Circus, Geebo the Clown, Tri-Parish Ballet, and Shelley Frederick.  

Featured adult events and performers this summer included Cooking Demonstrations with Brittany Khamille, Watercolor Workshop with Heidi Lindsley, Hooping for Health and Wellness, Master Gardener – Tropical Gardening, Music & More from Down Under, Paper Bead Making with Cherie Ducote Breaux, and Shelley Frederick. 

Some of the Library’s other programs include escape rooms, art workshops, circus shows, crafts, gardening programs, DIY classes, and trivia sessions. 

Sponsors 

The Livingston Parish Library would like to thank its Summer Reading Program sponsors whose support provided SRP completion prizes and grand prizes this year. 

Those sponsors are as follows: 

Summer Literacy Advocates 

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers 

Chick-fil-A 

Texas Roadhouse 

Brandy Robertson State Farm 

Epic Piping 

Livingston Parish SADD 

The Advocate 

Sheet Metal Workers Local 214 

Summer Literacy Believers 

Denham Springs Main Street 

Denham Springs Antique Village