A record breaking 26,638 children have taken part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at Hampshire County Council’s libraries – over 1,200 more youngsters than during last year’s event.
This year’s 4 to 11 year old participants were tasked with reading six books borrowed from Hampshire libraries over a two month period, from mid-July to mid-September.
Hampshire County Council’s, Councillor Andrew Gibson, said: “Congratulations to all our young readers who have completed the 2017 Summer Reading Challenge - helping to set a fantastic new record for Hampshire Library Service with the highest number of Hampshire participants in the history of the challenge.
“It’s been great seeing children getting into the spirit of the event and enjoying this year’s theme of ‘Animal Agents’. It might be the end of the Summer Reading Challenge, but we hope that children continue to have fun reading, because we know it offers them unlimited imagination and adventure.
“My thanks go to all our staff and volunteers who have played such an important part in this year’s achievement - through a raft of activities including hosting school assemblies and running the challenge every day in library branches across the county.”
If you would like to get involved in supporting your local library, find out more about the volunteering opportunities available with Hampshire Libraries.