First it was radio, then television. Then it was video games and TikTok. Many book lovers, bookstores and parents of reading-age children feared the demise of the printed story.
Yet, with just a few days to go before the end of the Irene Ingle Public Library annual summer reading program for kids, the youngsters are far ahead of last year’s pace.
The program ends Saturday, Aug. 3, with prizes for readers and a party on Aug. 10.
Wrangell’s young readers entering kindergarten through ninth grade in August had gone through 2,603 books as of July 28, said Sarah Scambler, library director. The program started in late May. This summer’s total is about 20% above last year.
More than 90 readers had already reached or exceeded the minimum required 10 points to complete the program this summer, “and with one more week to test, I am hoping to see that number rise to around 100,” Scambler said Monday.
It’s been a good summer for the library program, just as 2023 was a good year for book publishers across the U.S., which printed more than 767 million books — more than the pre-COVID tally in 2019, according to industry reports.
Due to sustained interest in buying and reading books, the nation’s largest bookstore, Barnes & Noble, plans to open 50 new stores this year to serve book lovers. Independent bookstores are on the rise, and Little Free Libraries, including two in Wrangell, keep readers engaged. The nationwide nonprofit program started in 2009 in Wisconsin, encouraging people to put up small, free book-exchange boxes in front of homes and businesses.
Young participants in the Wrangell public library summer reading program have their own reasons for pulling a book off the shelf. Amira Roher quickly admitted she reads for the prizes, while her older sister Kaiya reads for fun.
As an almost-ninth grader, this is Kaiya’s last year in the summer program, but she plans to keep reading, especially if the description on the back cover of a book is intriguing. She and her sister agree that reading a series is a good starting place for choosing their next book.
Linda Hinke, a former elementary school teacher and librarian, agreed that it can be a challenge to find the right book to read when there are so many possibilities. She follows favorite authors, but also depends on friends’ recommendations and taps in to a variety of librarian-list apps.
Book clubs have become a way for people to find their next read, with many books now offering reader’s guides and questions.
Scambler said the most recent selection in her book club was a surprise, because all the participants liked the book. Generally, she said, there are people who like a selection and those who don’t, which can make for a lively conversation. When everyone liked the book, “The Last Bookshop in London,” it actually made for a more challenging conversation.
Sometimes a book sounds good but turns out to be not all that interesting. Hinke acknowledged that while it is perfectly acceptable to give up on a book that’s not enjoyable, she keeps reading, hoping that it will get better.
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