Library wraps up Summer Reading Program
The Jeff Davis County Library wrapped up a record-breaking Summer Reading Program, posting an extraordinary 82% surge in program attendance and more than doubling the total minutes read by patrons. Driven by the dinosaur-themed “Unearth a Story” campaign, the overwhelming community response even required a venue relocation to accommodate overflowing crowds.
The excitement kicked off June 3 with a “Summerween” Festival, launching a weekly Wednesday entertainment series featuring two live animal shows and two magic acts. Attendance exploded at the inaugural performance by the Wild Wonder Animal Show, where over 200 children and parents packed the library’s meeting room and lobby.
Recognizing the urgent need for a larger space, Cameron Asbell, Director of the Ohoopee Regional Library System, partnered with the Jeff Davis School System to move the remaining performances to the Jeff Davis Multipurpose Ag Center. “We are deeply grateful to the Jeff Davis Board of Education, Superintendent Roppe and Administrative Assistant Nelms for being so responsive and allowing the library to use the Multipurpose Ag Center. They went above and beyond and made sure there was a space for the programs on very short notice”, said Asbell.
“It was something we did not see coming,” said Matthew Stembridge, Jeff Davis Librarian. “We’ve never seen a response like this at a summer performance.”
The packed summer calendar featured a dynamic lineup, including interactive storytimes (Books, Bones, and Dinos), a Dino Egg Hunt, Mario Kart Tournaments, tie-dyeing, craft workshops, and trivia days. The summer season also launched two successful ongoing monthly initiatives: a Pokemon Club and the Senior Breakfast Club (formerly Early Bird Breakfast), which offers residents aged 65 and older coffee, pastries, and helpful local resources.
The surge in program participation translated directly into active reading across all age categories:
Picture Book Circulation: Increased by 10%
Young Adult Book Circulation: Increased by 34%
Juvenile Book Circulation: Increased by 35%
Local readers also shattered targets in the annual Beanstack Reading Challenge. After logging roughly 33,400 total minutes in 2025, library staff set a goal of 45,000 minutes for 2026. By mid-August, patrons had logged a staggering 67,457 minutes read.
“I was shocked to see that we doubled last year’s minutes,” Stembridge added. “People came to the library this summer for programs, they checked out books, they read, and they participated in the challenge. We have a great community in Jeff Davis and we feel that support through donations, feedback, and participation. We could not have had such a great summer without a supportive community.”
The library extends special gratitude to the Jeff Davis Ledger for its dedicated event coverage, as well as the generous local business partners who sponsored this year’s summer reading program: Williams Brothers Trucking, The Bank of Hazlehurst, Interstate Credit Union, Southern EyeCare, Morris Forestry Services, Bateman Realty, and Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home.
