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In spite of sweltering temperatures, the Coffee County Manchester Public Library enjoyed a successful conclusion to its annual Summer Reading Program with a carnival July 13.

Youth Services Librarian Daphanie Gragg said 629 children and teens participated in the Summer Reading program this year, making for a busy event-filled summer for the library.

Gragg said for ages 0-5 years old, 10,138 books were read, with one child reading the most with 483 books.

Ages 6-11 years old had 348 registered participants read a total 187,553 minutes during the program’s eight week run. The library also saw a record number of teens participate in the program this year.

“For our teens, we had a record number of 88 teens, 122,449 minutes read,” Gragg said.

Altogether, the Coffee County Manchester Public Library Summer Reading Program had 629 participants reading 310,002 minutes and winning 96 grand prizes.

Cherl Boswell said her daughter has been participating in the Summer Reading Program for years, but this year her son Damon, who is vision impaired, was able to participate as well through audiobooks.

“I think it is a great outlet for kids,” she said. “They have an opportunity to do things and win things, I think it is a great resource for the kids.”

Hannah Avery said she began enrolling her kids in the Summer Reading Program about three or four years ago.

“Just so they don’t lose all their reading skills over the summer, most importantly and it gets them excited about reading,” she said.

Gragg said it would be impossible to do the Summer Reading Program, or any number of programs, without the sponsors and volunteers that continue to come out and support the libraries efforts.

“I couldn’t do any of this with the kids and motivate them and have them have as much fun without the community support,” she said. “I am very thankful for all the support I have gotten from the community.”