The Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County Library is celebrating the success of this year’s Summer Reading Club, themed Color Our World. Summer programming ran from mid-June through mid-August and included reading challenges along with exciting, interactive classes and events for children, as well as teens and adults.
Summer Reading Club 2025 saw a total of 621 participants, a mix of 531 children and 90 teens/adults. The Library held 46 in-person programs system-wide, drawing 1,390 attendees. The statistic they are proudest of, though, is that 213 participants completed the Reading Challenge, collectively reading a whopping 2,085 books!
Five lucky kids, one from each library location, became Summer Reading Club grand prize winners of $50 Amazon gift cards, while one very lucky adult won an awesome drawing-themed basket in the system-wide adult/teen Summer Reading Challenge grand prize drawing. Participants eligible for winning grand prizes are required to have completed the Reading Challenge.
The Library would like to extend its greatest thanks and appreciation to the following parties who made Color Our World possible:
Presenters: Ashley Bachtel-Bodkins, University of Maryland Extension/Garrett County Master Gardeners; Dr. Sean Beachy, DM, Instructor of Music at Garrett College; Machelle Bender, Garrett County Health Department; Frostburg State University Children’s Literature Centre; Mary Gall, The Bug Lady; Amanda Haymans, Unwind Art; Elizabeth Hook; Janet Jones, Musician; James Michaels; David Mills, U.S. Veteran; Ranger Noah, New Germany State Park; Emily Pysell, University of Maryland Extension; Samuel Reckart, Herrington Manor State Park; Science Heroes; Shanna Sincell and Christine Smith, Sang Run State Park Rangers; Pamela South; Shannon Tomac, An Element of Design/Crafty Ants; Patty Wells; Karen Wood, University of Maryland Extension/4-H Youth Development; and Mikey & Jennifer Virts, Our Town Theatre.
Volunteer: Jillian Ward.
Partners: Friends of the Ruth Enlow Library, Maryland State Library Agency, Collaborative Summer Library Program, Lakeside Creamery, McDonald’s, The National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, and Baltimore Orioles.
The Library appreciates everyone who participated in this year’s Summer Reading Club and hopes you’ll join us again next year. In the meantime, we have loads of awesome fall programming in store. Visit www.relib.net for a full listing of upcoming Library events.
The Ruth Enlow Library serves the residents of Garrett County, Maryland, with branches in Oakland, Accident, Friendsville, Grantsville, and Kitzmiller. The library provides access to a wide range of resources, including books, digital media, educational programs, and community services.
Photo caption: The finished product of paint squirt guns and a ton of imagination at the Main Library’s “Color Our World Activity Stations” event.
