Pioneer Library System (PLS) announces it has had record-breaking success in its 2025 Summer Learning Challenge.
Because of the dedication and enthusiasm of thousands of readers across the community, PLS exceeded its ambitious goal of 18 million learning points — logging 22,478,154 points by the program’s close.
This achievement reflects the combined efforts of more than 9,000 participants who enrolled in the challenge, with more than half of participants reaching their 1,000-point milestone, earning rewards, and completing the program. Along the way, participants logged 8,145,331 minutes of reading, completed 156,374 activities, and earned 34,889 digital badges.
One of the most important goals of the Summer Learning Challenge is to help students avoid the “summer slide,” a well-documented learning loss that can occur when children are out of school for several months. Studies show that students can lose up to two months of reading skills during the summer, but consistent engagement with books and learning activities makes a significant difference.
By encouraging daily reading, creative exploration, and skill-building activities, Pioneer Library System helps ensure that children return to school prepared, confident, and ready to succeed.
Because the community came together to meet — and surpass — the goal, PLS donated more than 10,600 books provided by the Pioneer Library System Foundation to children enrolled in WIC programs across Cleveland, McClain, and Pottawatomie counties, nearly doubling last years donations.
Because of donor support, this initiative helps more families gain access to free books, encouraging early literacy, and a love of learning.
The Summer Learning Challenge is an annual program designed to keep learning fun, prevent summer learning loss, and spark curiosity for community members of all ages. Area residents can continue learning with the Spark a Change Challenge, live now through December at pioneerlibrarysystem. org/events/spark-achange.
