To boost Summer Reading registration — which had declined during the pandemic — MCPL eliminated plastic prizes. Instead, children and teens worked collectively towards making tangible environmental contributions in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. This change aligned with the Montgomery County Executive's Priority Outcomes and Headline Measure of “A Greener County,” which emphasizes reducing our footprint through the reduction of waste. It also aligned with Montgomery County Public Schools curriculum.

Inspiring children to make a difference in their community is a groundbreaking model for a public library summer reading program, as is the elimination of plastic prizes. Instead, by reading and completing activities, readers earned e-badges and eco-friendly incentives including a new book; a voucher for two tickets to a Washington Nationals baseball game; a Friends of the Library Bookstore voucher; and bookmarks featuring Chesapeake Wildlife Trivia, emphasizing the clean-up measures of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

As readers hit milestones, the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County made contributions to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In turn, the CBF planted 500 trees along the watershed, 250,000 oysters in the Bay and restored wildlife habitats throughout the Watershed. These changes resonated with the community, as evidenced by the nearly 13,000 children and teens who registered for the program, marking an 8-year high. As one customer shared, “[We liked] the fact that the kids were working towards a goal with a purpose.”