Jefferson County Public Library hopes to build a better world with Summer Reading

Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) launches its Summer Reading program on June 1 with prizes, contests and exciting events.

With a new community-wide goal of reading a collective 30 million minutes in two months, JCPL aims to create a culture of reading in Jefferson County while helping students maintain or improve their reading levels for when they return to school in the fall.

“While reading readiness is a goal of Summer Reading, the program isn’t just for kids,” says Pam Nissler, JCPL’s executive director. “Our youngest community members, babies included, need to read, be read to, and keep their minds active over the summer. And, adults can benefit from reading six minutes a day, which has been shown to reduce stress, ease muscle tension and positively alter people’s state of mind.”

New this year, JCPL Jefferson County is excited to name Foothills Animal Shelter as an official beneficiary of Summer Reading. If Jefferson County reaches the 30 million minute goal, Jefferson County Library Foundation will award Foothills Animal Shelter $500 to help fund their services and programs.

JCPL also is continuing its Summer Reading School Contest, awarding $800 to five Jeffco Public Schools that have the highest percentage of finishers (students who read and log at least eight hours) in their respective categories (preschool; elementary; middle; high; charter/choice/option).

People can register online at jeffcolibrary.org/SummerReading or in any Jefferson County library from June 1 – July 31. Then, they track and log minutes to win prizes. Prizes include Chipotle meals, free books, unlimited ride passes to Lakeside Amusement Park and Elitch Gardens Theme Park and more.