The Gardendale Public Library recently completed its Summer Reading Program and awarded a new bike to winner Cole Lucas from Corner.
The program encourages kids to read through the program by requiring participants to read 30 minutes each day and turn in a log showing their progress.
Ange Clark, Director of Youth Services for the library, said that 457 kids turned out for the program this year from all over North Jefferson. They ranged in age from 1 to 17.
When asked about the program’s impact, Wendy Lucas, Cole’s mom, said the program is “a major motivator to get them to read extra. We had to tell him to turn out his lamp at night because he wanted to read.”