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Grand Prairie Library reports 4.4 million summer reading minutes, expands mobile library programming
Summary
Library staff said the community logged more than 4.4 million minutes in the summer reading program, more than 2,000 people participated, and the library is expanding mobile library programs and outreach.
Victoria, a Grand Prairie Library staff member who appeared on "It's Happening in Grand Prairie," said the city's summer reading program registered more than 4,400,000 minutes read collectively and drew over 2,000 participants. The library also reported that more than 100 children ages 5 to 12 reached a highest badge milestone of 6,000 minutes.
"We had our community read over 4,400,000.0 minutes together as a collective. So we're very proud of that. And we had over 2,000 people participate," Victoria said.
Peter Petersheim, a Grand Prairie Library staff member, described an expansion of mobile library services.
"So because we have 2, we can just reach many more service points," Petersheim said, and he added that mobile libraries carry materials, computers and Wi‑Fi. Victoria said the Wi‑Fi functions as "a WiFi hub that stretches out about 20 feet around the vehicle." Petersheim and Victoria said the library will add live programming at mobile stops, citing a recent turnout of about 40 people at a Grand Peninsula stop for an "Art on the Go" program led by Avania, the library's tween and teen programmer.
The library highlighted upcoming dates and services: a mobile library appearance at PickleFest on Sept. 6, a "Pages in the Park" event Nov. 22 at Mi Familia featuring both mobile units, and participation in Main Street Fest in October and the Christmas tree lighting in December. Staff said the mobile libraries can act as an on‑site service point when a building experiences a temporary outage; staff described using a mobile unit recently after a facility lost air conditioning.
Library locations listed during the interview include the Grand Prairie Memorial Library at 901 Conover Drive, the Betty Warmack Library at 760 Bridal Road, and the Tony Shotwell Library located inside the Tony Shotwell Life Center at 2750 Graham Street. Staff directed listeners to gptx.org/library and to the library's Beanstack platform for ongoing reading challenges and registration.
The library said it will continue to offer Beanstack tracking year‑round and to add seasonal challenges, including programs for pre‑K readers through adults.
