While many groups focused on providing digital content for children during the pandemic, library staff knew that 50,000 households in our city do not have internet access in the home, leaving thousands of children without access to the library’s digital materials and virtual programming. With libraries closed, many also lacked physical books too. But nearly all homes have local television access and staff felt we could safely deliver new books at sites where families were already picking up food and other necessities.

Staff distributed books during the summer at school feeding sites and other venues throughout the county. Each new book — for families to keep — came in a branded envelope that doubled as a paper registration form and included fun activities. LFPL also mailed postcards to 16,000 homes in low-reading proficiency ZIP codes to make them aware of the program. To fill the void of in-person programming, we partnered with the NBC affiliate to broadcast a weekly Saturday morning TV show featuring local performers and storytellers.

LFPL staff (six of them) distributed 50,638 books to children throughout the community. The television show, "Adventures in Summer Reading," had an average Nielsen rating of 24,125 viewers. In total, 15,655 children and teens participated in the Summer Reading Program with more than 10,000 of them reading at least 10 books.