Summertime and the reading is easy and prize-worthy

Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library’s summer reading program attracted almost 60,000 participants this year—the most since 2004.

The 94th annual program, made possible with support from sponsors including Indiana Members Credit Union, offered readers the chance to earn prizes and support literacy efforts in central Indiana and at Christel House International Learning Centers in Mexico, India and South Africa. A total of 1,210 books were donated for needy children.

For the second year, participants under age 18 also could pay off library card debts by reading. More than 1,100 children wiped out nearly $25,000 in fees through the Earn and Learn initiative.

Dubbed “Read Together, Right Now” in homage to the Beatles classic “Come Together,” this year’s summer reading program theme was inspired by 1960s pop culture.