Thanks to community members logging millions of minutes reading, Citizen Potawatomi Nation benefited from a donation of 2,128 books.

Representatives from the Pioneer Library System (PLS) arrived in front of CPN’s WIC building on Oct. 2 with a truck full of boxes that were distributed to CPN clinics.

“The Pioneer Library System’s generous book donation provides age-appropriate reading materials for our pediatric patients,” CPN Clinical Operations Director Lauren Bristow said.

She added that the donated books will be given to children with appointments at CPN clinics.

“This gift provides a twofold benefit for our patients and their families,” she said. “Initially, the book may reduce anxiety often associated with a clinic visit by offering a positive distraction. Secondarily, as the book is the child’s to keep, it provides the opportunity to read at home, which supports literacy development.”

Each year, the Pioneer Library System engages local communities in a Summer Learning Challenge, encouraging people of all ages to log the time they spend reading or learning over the summer months. Each minute equals one point, and participants are encouraged to earn 1,000 points.

In addition to individual goals, there is also a goal for how many points the community can earn collectively.

“When the community goal is met, Pioneer Library System donates books to children ages 0-5 enrolled in WIC programs across our three counties: Cleveland, McClain and Pottawatomie. This is made possible by a generous donation of the Pioneer Library System Foundation,” Aiden Street, director of community engagement and learning for PLS, said.

Street said last year, the community blew past the goal of 7 million minutes with a total of 17 million minutes. This year, the community doubled its goal of 11 million minutes by logging more than 22 million minutes.

For more information about the Pioneer Library System and its programs, visit pioneerlibrarysystem.org.

For more information about WIC, visit cpn.news/WIC, or to learn about the clinics, go to cpn.news/health.