Copperas Cove library draws record crowd for summer reading kickoff

More than 200 people packed the Copperas Cove Public Library’s summer reading kickoff, setting a new attendance record for the foam party and giving Coryell County families a clear message: children ages 1 to 15 can still join the program, and the library’s summer lineup is built to keep reading skills alive while school is out. The annual program runs from mid-June into early July, with weekly special performances for families and a slate of rewards tied to reading logs.

The turnout at 501 S. Main Street, next to the Central Fire Station, far outpaced the library’s usual summer participation of about 100 to 125 children and families. Outside, children played in mountains of foam from Big Time Bubbles under the big tree. Inside, the Summer Safety Fair brought together McLane Children’s Hospital, Central Texas Poison Control, Texas Health and Human Services, military family support programs and financial literacy organizations, turning the library into a one-stop stop for practical help as well as entertainment.

Karen Eacrett, head of the children’s department, said the summer reading effort is aimed at preventing the “summer slide,” the learning loss that can happen when students spend too long away from books. She said children who stop reading over the summer often spend part of the new school year relearning skills they already had, which is why the library’s program is designed to keep those skills active.

That education mission is matched by concrete incentives. Children can track their reading on logs to earn rewards, qualify for a pizza party sponsored by local businesses and enter bicycle drawings if they complete their logs. Knights of Pythias donated bicycles, and Girl Scouts of Central Texas donated helmets, extending the event’s reach beyond the library walls and into daily family life.

The library’s digital offerings add another layer of support for parents looking to keep children engaged without added cost at home. Its catalog includes access to newspapers, encyclopedias and TumbleBookLibrary, giving young readers and caregivers more ways to stay connected to books during the long stretch before school starts again.