Dozens of young people reaped the rewards of summer reading at the George Town Public Library, on Saturday, 20 September 2014.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge Recognition Ceremony drew more than 150 persons, including children, their friends and family members. Overall 74 students participated in this year’s initiative, which ran from July to August, up from 46 in 2013.

Logging the most minutes read this year was 10-year-old Thomas Sevick, a student from Cayman Brac who read a total of 5,496 minutes. Nine-year-old Sahara O’Connor, of Grand Cayman came second with a total of 3,761 minutes. Both won bicycles and helmets courtesy of sponsors Cox Lumber and the Public Library Service.

Each young person received a prize for participation, including iPads, iPods, games, toys, activity packets and more.

Director of the Public Library Service Ramona Melody says: “The 2014 Challenge was a grand success! I am delighted with the participation and very appreciative of the support that the Library has received from parents, friends and helping organizations in our community. I am confident that the programme will continue to grow, and to help our children become strong readers.”

In his final report on the programme, Deputy Director of the Library, and this year’s Summer Reading Challenge organizer, Paul Robinson praised Cox Lumber and Rotary Central, the programme’s other sponsor.

Ministry of Education Deputy Chief Officer, Dr. Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, attended the event to award prizes and to say a few words of encouragement to participants.

The Summer Reading Challenge began in 2012 to encourage children between the ages of six and 17 years old to read a minimum number of age-appropriate books, for a minimum number of days and minutes during the summer. Library membership and a reading log were the only other requirements.

Explaining that the programme aims to combat any regression in young people’s abilities during the long summer break, Ms Melody adds: “Reading skills are important to success in school and work. Furthermore the results of the Summer Reading Challenge confirm that reading can be a fun and imaginative activity for children, which opens doors to all kinds of new worlds for them.”

At the end of the summer, the Library sends a letter to school principals advising them of students who completed the challenge.

Photo captions: Photos by GIS

Photo 1: Ministry of Education Deputy Chief Officer Dr Tasha Ebanks Garcia presents a prize to one of the younger summer reading programme participants. The programme catered to students aged six to 17 years.

Photo 2: Dr Tasha with another participant. Prizes for participation included: iPads, iPods, games, toys, activity packets and more. The two young persons with the most minutes read received bikes and helmets—which can be seen in the corner here.

Photo 3: Seventy-four young people took part in this year’s summer reading programme—up from 46 in 2013. On Saturday, 20 September, those students, their friends and family members filled the old George Town Public Library to collect prizes for their achievement.