Salem library surpasses 1M-page goal

By D.A. Wilkinson

wilkinson@vindy.com

SALEM

What do you do when you reach the goal of 1 million pages?

Read some more.

The Salem Public Library has already passed its goal of people reading 1 million pages in 90 days

The program began Oct. 4.

Quaker Million Pages Reading Challenge 2010 was expected to end Jan. 2.

But local readers passed that mark very quickly.

Teresa Rhodes, the marketing and outreach coordinator for the library said, “Yes, we were kind of surprised” by the response.

Bradley K. Stephens, the library director, said, “It’s been incredibly successful.”

Readers have read more than expected. The total of pages to date is now 1.6 million.

“The community had a great response to the project,” Stephens said. “I’m very happy.”

Janet Trapp, a patron of the library, read the 1 millionth page.

Those who took part in the program had to submit information showing what they had read.

Library workers were able to use those records to show she broke the 1 million mark.

“We’re very excited to have her as our 1-millionth [page] reader,” Stephens said.

The library also partnered with the Salem school district with students who read a total of 600,000 pages.

“We can be proud of our kids,” he said.