The Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries would like to congratulate our community on a successful 2024 Winter Reading Program! Over the course of seven weeks, a total of 1,525 books were read by children, teens, and adults: participants in grades 6 and under read 920 books, while the teen category in grades 7-12 logged 58 titles, and adults finished 547 altogether.

This fun annual program celebrates starting your new year off strong with some great books and brings with it the many important benefits of reading, from expanding vocabulary to encouraging relaxation to fostering empathy. Participants share a brief review of each book they read in order to be entered into the program’s weekly prize drawings. You can check out some of our favorite reviews from this year here.

Our sincere gratitude goes to the generous community sponsors whose prize donations provided incentives to keep our patrons reading strong throughout the program! Thank you to Beauty Salon V, Blenders in the Grass, The Book Loft, Brick Barn Winery, Enjoy Cupcakes, Fairview Barbers, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Friends of the Goleta Valley Library, Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley, The Habit, Miner’s Ace Hardware, ONEder Child, Peasant’s Deli & Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Trader Joe’s.

Although the Winter Reading Program has ended, there are many fantastic titles that await on the library shelves! We look forward to seeing you all year long at the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries.