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Picture more than 31,400 children, teens and adults busily reading books for 254,000 hours. They all did it as part of the 2008 Jefferson County Public Library Summer Reading Club between June 1 and July 31. All that reading set a record - 24 percent more hours read than in 2007. Children and teen readers racked up 246,664 hours, blazing past the program’s goal of 160,000 hours by 88,664 hours. A total of 10,830 kids read nearly 20 percent more hours than last year.

Exceeding the goal resulted in Jefferson County Library Foundation and Friends to donate $1,000 in new children’s books to Colorado Homeless Families. The Foundation and Friends funds the Summer Reading Club.

Summer Reading Club also comes with rewards for participants. Children who read for at least eight hours received a free book from a selection at their local libraries. Libraries awarded nearly 9,000 free books to program finishers.

Teen readers earned nearly 1,650 books as rewards, plus a chance to win one of 20 $50 gift cards.

Studies show that most students make steady progress in reading during the school year, but tend to fall behind during the summer months. The Library’s Summer Reading Club fosters literacy, especially among “at-risk” youth who need help developing their reading skills, and encourages kids to spend more time with books. The Club approach also encourages parents to become involved in their children’s reading activities.