The recap
The library offered a total of 23 special programs for its 2024 Summer Reading season on top of its regular weekly programming and book clubs.
This summer reading season, called "Adventure Begins at Your Library,” saw 348 readers of all ages participate, Library Director Barbara Hathaway said.
The city allows participants to track their minutes spent reading through an app called Beanstalk, and readers with the highest number of minutes logged can receive prizes.
This year, Bee Cave logged a total of 415,000 minutes spent reading and over 3,400 different books read.
"Summer reading programs are offered by public libraries across the country as a proven way to keep children from losing ground over the break, so that they return to school in the fall without missing a beat," Hathaway said.
The bigger picture
While planning for next year's summer reading season will begin in the fall, Hathaway said expanded programming may not be in the cards, as the current library building has limited space.
During the summer months, daily attendance to the library often jumps by thousands of visitors, and in June, nearly 1,900 people attended library events.
The city's new, larger library building has yet to break ground, but is set to open sometime in 2026.
What's next?
This fall, monthly programs for adults will include Book Buzz, where attendees can share what they are currently reading and get ideas for what to read next.
Other programs include the Bee Cave Book Club and a hands-on craft program called Bee Creative.
Teens and tweens will have opportunities to earn service hours on the Teen Advisory Board or BeeTweens monthly.
Events on the horizon include an author event for Lake Travis Reads in early October and the Rolling Sculpture Car Show on Halloween weekend, which will be announced in the coming weeks, Hathaway said.
Barbara
