Teens at the Northwest Library’s After-Hours Summer Reading Program Party

Teens are shown here at an after-hours party at the Northwest Library. The party was held to thank them for helping them with the summer reading program. They are in the teen area of the building, which prior to the library’s renovation in 2008 was located on the west side of the building, between the adult and children’s areas.

The library system’s summer reading program and circulation statistics increased dramatically in 1996, the first year that the Northwest Library was open. In June 1996, more than 80,000 items were circulated at the Northwest Library alone, and total circulation for the library system as a whole increased 21 percent over June 1995. And by June 1996, 3500 children had signed up for the summer reading program, compared to 3010 the year before.