Over 463 participants tallied for 2025 events thanks to prize donors and program providers

MEDIA RELEASE__The Bluffton Public Library would like to thank Bluffton and the surrounding communities for supporting a successful 2025 Color Our World Summer Reading Program. 

The number of participants is up this year as 172 children, 43 teens, and 93 adults registered for the reading portion of the program.  There were 75 programs offered in June and July, with over 463 participants.

Summer Reading Programs are an important part of supporting children’s reading abilities when they are away from school during the summer months, and they also help provide complimentary activities to keep community members engaged and developing a lifetime love of learning. 

We thank our teen volunteers for helping with programs, and also for helping to mark the children’s logs and distribute incentive prizes and Grand Prize entry tickets as kids tracked their reading through the summer.

We would also like to thank our Summer Read Donors who have graciously donated prizes and support for this year’s summer programming: Bluffton Baking Co.; Bluffton University; Butterfly House; Community Markets; Dough Hook; Fort Wayne Tin Caps; Friends of the Bluffton Public Library; Goodness & Grace Bakery; Kings Island; Kira’s Flipside Grill; Langan Family Finds; LuLu’s Diner; Luvu A Latte; Miller Ferries to Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island, Ohio; Ohio Renaissance Festival; Ohio State Fair; Ohio State Parks; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; roots By Strattons/Stratton Greenhouses; Sara’s Sweets; Seneca Caverns; Shannon Theatre; Shirley’s Popcorn; Springfield Fireworks; The Story Room Bookstore; Young’s Jersey Dairy.

In addition to our prize donors, we also thank those who have generously given of their time and talent to support the library this summer: Activate Allen County; Bluffton Public Library Board of Trustees; Hannah Warwick of Bluffton Art Co.; Jeanne Crumrine; Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District; Mobile Health Clinic - ONU Healthwise; Pet Partners.