The Lompoc Public Library Summer Reading Challenge: Find Your Voice soared past its expectations, logging 282,682 minutes read.

Initially, the library set a goal of 100,000 minutes read for the summer 2023 program that began June 1. That goal was surpassed within the first month of the challenge that concluded on July 31. In summer 2022, the total minutes read was 155,000.

In addition to minutes read, 2,450 participated in 22 different summer reading challenge activities, ranging from character visits to stuffed-animal sleepovers, to crafts for all ages, and food-preparation demonstrations.

There were 750 lunches served through the Lunch at the Library program this summer.

The Charlotte’s Web Mobile Children’s Library held stops throughout the Lompoc Valley all season, visiting summer camps, neighborhoods, special events, and Old Town Market.

In total, 1,607 people visited the bookmobile this summer, checking out 1,344 books.

Lompoc Public Library System director Sarah Bleyl said the program was again a great success.

“The amount of reading completed is amazing,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who helped us surpass our original summer reading challenge goal of 100,000 minutes by nearly three times over.

“Make sure to check out our other reading challenges on Beanstack, and let’s keep going into the fall and beyond.”