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Davenport library reports 2,312 participants in Summer Reading Challenge, seeks sponsors
Summary
Library officials reported a 48% increase in participation this summer, with 2,312 people taking part across age groups; the library thanked the Friends for funding tote-bag incentives and said it is seeking a $10,000–$20,000 sponsor for future incentives.
Davenport Library officials told trustees Tuesday that 2,312 people participated in the library’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, a 48% increase in participation from the previous year.
Jeff Collins, library director, presented a two-page summary of the program and said the increase reflected several factors, including a universal tote-bag incentive funded by the Friends of the Library. "Thanks to the Friends for funding those tote bags; that contributed to that increase in participation," Collins said.
Collins gave an age-group breakdown the library supplied: 359 babies and toddlers, 796 children (reported for the elementary-age group), 271 teens and nearly 1,000 adults. Staff counted 354 programs over the summer with total attendance exceeding 10,000 people; the library said the Touch-a-Truck event drew more than 1,000 attendees.
Library staff described their prize structure — including grand-prize drawings for each age group and a popular option of a personal owl visit — and said one school winner chose an in-school owl visit. Collins said the library will present school trophies at the Davenport City Council meeting on Oct. 8; the council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the trophy presentation is expected early on the agenda.
Looking ahead, Collins said staff are seeking a long-term sponsor willing to underwrite incentive costs to sustain program growth. He identified a funding target range of $10,000 to $20,000 for that sponsorship. Trustees and staff discussed measurement of educational impact; the director said privacy rules limit the library’s ability to share student-level data but that the library coordinates with local schools where legally permissible to assess outcomes.
No formal board action was taken; the report was informational.
