September 18, 2019

“Universe of Stories” proved to be the Nashua Public Library’s best summer reading program to date. More than 1,000 readers, from babies to adults, read 1,597,633 minutes between June 22 and August 17.

Our final report gives a general overview of the program, with a special emphasis on Nashua School District data.

To kick things off, Nashua Public Library staff visited all Nashua School District 2nd through 8th grade classrooms to explain the program to students. Students from 23 Nashua schools ended up participating in summer reading, clocking 1,030,467 minutes. Nashua School District student participation increased 34 percent for pre-k through grade 5, and 16 percent for grades 6 to 12, over 2018.

Community collaboration

Community groups throughout the city helped make the program a success. Library and school district staff held eight pop-up libraries in inner city neighborhoods. Library staff collaborated with the Power Scholars programs, and public and school librarians jointly developed suggested book lists.

Other community partners included:

• Nashua Transit
• City of Nashua Department of Parks and Recreation
• Nashua eTV
• 21st Century Program
• Nashua YMCA
• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua
• PAL

Other highlights of the summer reading program included a twilight story time for kids, after-hours laser tag for teens, and a talk about UFO encounters in the Granite State for adults.

Thank you

Thank you to the Nashua School District for partnering with us to turn students and their families into summer readers and for joining us at our pop-up libraries.