This year’s Summer Reading Challenge – Story Garden, which ran from 5 July to 13 September, has been another great success in Buckinghamshire. Under the leadership of the Conservative-run Council, our county's libraries have once again shown the vital role they play in supporting children, families, and communities.
The Reading Agency created the national challenge, but here in Buckinghamshire it was delivered with real imagination by local library teams. Children enjoyed rock painting, seed planting, treasure hunts and even performances – all designed to bring stories to life and inspire a love of reading.
Almost 3,000 children joined in through our libraries, with hundreds more taking part online. Many of them completed the full challenge, and in total our libraries welcomed more than 323,000 visits over the summer. More than 1,500 new library members under the age of 12 signed up, including hundreds who joined especially for the Challenge. Families also enjoyed 68 free or low-cost events, attended by around 1,900 children. Perhaps most importantly, more than 70,000 children’s books were borrowed during the Challenge – a sign of how this initiative continues to inspire young readers across the county.
Well done to all of the children who took part, and thank you to the Council staff and volunteers who made this summer project such a success for local families.
