Western Plains Library System was excited to partner with Miss Teen Washita County and Miss Elk City’s Teen Bailey Gossen to host a first of its kind reading challenge at the beginning of this year. The Washita County Reading Challenge kicked off the new year for readers ages 0-11 residing in Washita County and encouraged reading and literacy through community connections and library participation.
The reading challenge was established when Gossen approached WPLS Director of Customer Experience Conner Kirk for support launching the challenge using WPLS’ online reading log, Beanstack. Through the partnership, Gossen and WPLS were able to create a meaningful reading experience for children across Washita county.
Throughout the month of January, 46 readers participated in the challenge, collectively logging 23,578 minutes of reading. The top readers in each age category were awarded with a grand prize donated by outside partners. Azariah Zoschke was awarded the prize in the 0-4 age group after reading 1,000 minutes while Dawson Giblet won the 5-8 age group reading 1,202 minutes. The 9-11 age group was won by Temperance Duggins who read 2,470 minutes.
The Washita County Reading Challenge joined WPLS ‘ever growing slate of annual challenges which encourage reading and library engagement for all readers and highlights the library’s ever-growing collection of materials which includes graphic novels, audiobooks, and e-books.
Miss Teen Washita County and Miss Elk City’s Teen Bailey Gossen, center, awards Washita County Reading Challenge Winners Dawson Giblet and Temperance Duggins with their prize. Not pictured is winner Azariah Zoschke.