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Glendora Library reports record start to Summer Discovery Challenge; thousands reached through programs and outreach
Summary
Library staff reported a record start to the Summer Discovery Challenge: more than 1,400 registrations, thousands of reported reading days and 8,500 checkouts in two weeks, and expanded outreach to schools, volunteers and community partners, library staff said.
Library services manager Cindy Romero told the Glendora Board of Library Trustees that the city’s Summer Discovery Challenge, which began June 1, recorded its biggest opening since 2015 with more than 1,400 registrations and 3,500 reported days of reading in the first two weeks.
"This is the biggest start to the discovery challenge that we've had since 2015," Romero said, and added that the 3,500 reported reading days translate to roughly 1,800 hours at the program’s 30-minute daily minimum.
Romero provided additional usage figures: 250 new library cards issued, 8,500 items checked out, 31 distinct programs held so far with more than 2,300 participants, and 110 volunteers between ages 12 and 17 contributing more than 400 hours in the initial two-week period. She described a companion "Summer Spark" outreach that sends materials, book-club kits and activity sets to daycares, camps and other local programs to reach children who cannot visit the library during the day.
Interim Library Director Donna Dukes framed the numbers within a broader communications push. Dukes said the library uses a data-driven, multi-channel approach — website, email, text and social media, plus in-person events — to reach residents. She reported the library’s web pages receive about 60,000 page views annually, the Library Happenings newsletter reaches more than 5,000 subscribers monthly, and the building averages roughly 12,000 visitors per month.
Trustees praised staff and volunteers and asked for more program details; Romero described partnerships with the Glendora Unified School District that supply summer lunches at the library and allow the library to deliver reading-incentive materials to schools and camps.
Board members also discussed outreach on community event days: Trustee Hall suggested using farmers-market handouts or simple navigation aids to help residents find the library website and program information. Dukes said she would investigate the market’s vendor rules and follow up with trustees by email.
The board received the report and did not take further action; trustees will return from their July/August recess and resume meetings in September.
