Seward has won the Summer Reading Smackdown for the third year in a row.
The annual Smackdown competition pits patrons of the Seward Memorial Library against readers at the Kilgore Memorial Library in York to see who reads more along Highway 34.
Although York led the competition for most of the summer, Seward's reads totaled 2,434 books, while York's total was 2,286—a difference of 148.
This summer marked the fifth year of the Smackdown, and the trophy will stay perched atop a shelf along the south wall in the library.
York won the Smackdown in 2014.
"Everyone on the library staff really appreciates the effort Seward readers put into the adult summer reading program,” Seward Library Director Becky Baker said.
The contest ran from June 1 through July 31. Readers were given a punch card and earned a punch for each print, audio or eBook read during the two months.
Each time a reader finished a book, they received a punch on a card and a mini chocolate bar.
When they reached five punches, their name was entered into a drawing for prizes.
“Reading more on Highway 34 (and beating York) is really just the icing on the cake,” Baker said. “The interaction between staff and patrons all summer long is the best part of the program.”
Library staff will notify prize winners in the coming weeks.
Baker said it will be up to York whether or not to issue the challenge again next summer.
More information can be found at www.readingsmackdown.org.
