THE Swan Hill Regional Library Service was packed with young readers last Friday afternoon, eager to win a prize for the BIG Summer Read program.
All 49 public library services in Victoria registered to participate in the BIG Summer Read program this year.
It was another success for Swan Hill regional Library this year, with 195 children reading a combined total of 4230 books.
The program ran from December 1 last year to January 31 this year and was open for children aged 5-17.
Anyone who submitted a reading log, whether it be for one book, or several books, were in the draw to win a prize.
Swan Hill libraries manager Camille Cullinan said the program encourages children to read during the school holidays, which is when they often disengaged from the habit.
“Libraries are also keen advocates for sustaining literacy, and promoting the importance of recreational reading across all ages and reminding children that reading is an awesome pastime,” Ms Cullinan said.
“We’ve had an increase in participation and reading records returned each year that we’ve been running the program,” Ms Cullinan said.
Local sponsors of the program were also present at the prize draw at the library.
Various prizes were given to the lucky students including an Apple iPad, AirPods, family passes to the Pioneer Settlement, gift cards and Lego sets.
A certificate was also given to everyone who participated in the program.
“The more the students read, the more chances they have at being drawn as a winner,” Ms Cullinan said.
“But it doesn’t matter if they have one reading record, or 20 reading records, they all have a chance of getting something from it.”
