The Library Summer Reading program of 2025 has come to a successful close. With over 240 sign-ups, this was our biggest year yet! This included a record-breaking number of 64 adults participating in the program. We are thrilled by the participation and number of readers that our community boasts!

The nationwide theme this year, as set by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, was “Color Our World” bringing color, art and reading together. This was a wonderfully flexible and fun theme to work with. We took the opportunity to pair up with several talented, local artists to teach the kids various art methods. Artist DB Waltrip taught an outdoor paint-on-canvas class while art teacher Heidi Stephens taught a pinch-pot pottery class. Our littles group (ages 0-5) had weekly story time and craft events that included flower pot painting, jar lanterns, rainbow tambourines and more. Kids ages 9 an up could solve a mystery by cracking several brain-teasing puzzles in our “Art Heist Escape Room”. The reading program capped off with an epic color battle featuring games, music and races in the courtyard.

In addition to the calendar of in-house events, readers received a passport at sign up that featured an around town hunt to complete a secret painting using puzzles pieces, a mystery doodle code message and other fun activities. Each passport stop featured a local business and a kid-crafted artwork.

Readers of all ages turned in minute logs to track their journey. We tallied these minutes up to discover our top readers of the year and honored them in an Awards Party.  

Our top readers for the 0-5 age group were Clancy Nielsen in 1st  place, Adalyn Sisemore was 2nd and Khloe Smith in 3rd. A total of 12,156 minutes for the littlest readers! In the 6-11 age group Porter Gregory came in 1st  place, Efim Smolin was 2nd and Kallay Thiems in 3rd place. A whopping 64,499 minutes from this group! Our teen winners were Riley Halderman in 1st, Stetson Johnson  in 2nd and Dizie Lee in 3rd. The teens clocked 24,829 minutes!

Our adult reading program winners were required to turn in a 5-book log and entries were randomly drawn. Winners received reading-themed goodie bags and gift certificates to local businesses. Our winners were Brandi Darnell, Lyla Bell, Erin Millarr, Britney Partain and Jonathan Satterwhite!

The library appreciates all the kind support received from the City of Vinita, Cherokee Nation, volunteer workers and donations from the following local organizations and businesses: Vinita Lions Club, Vinita Rotary Club, Cherokee Nation, Club 58, Englund Family, Jewell Morgan memorial, Banc First, RCB Bank, Eastside Coffee, Shout & Sack, All Booked Up, Eastern Trails Museum, Shout & Sack, Pizza Hut, Route 66 Apparel, and Austin Brown of State Farm.
        This program is made possible by a grant from the US Institute of Museum and Library Services as well as The Oklahoma Department of Libraries. For more information on the summer reading program and other library programs, call the library at 918-256-2115. Follow the library on Facebook and Instagram.