Young readers really put the ZOOM in "Flutter Buzz Zoom," the Jefferson County Public Library's Kids Summer Reading Club. Signups at all libraries totaled nearly 9,030 after just the first week, beginning June 1.

Kids' total reading hours reached 794 and 71 children had already finished their program minimum reading goal of eight hours by the end of the first week.

First week signups for the Young Adult Summer Reading Club, "My Library-My Space," totaled 2,033. The teens had racked up nearly 1,000 hours of reading time and those who reached the program reading hours goal numbered 71.

When kids and teens complete eight hours of reading, they receive a free paperback book on Book Award Day in August and are entered into prize drawings, held in August.

Alison McCombe, head of Children's Information Services, said, "This is a really good start for both programs. The numbers compare well with the first week numbers for 2007 when nearly 22,000 kids and teens participated in the two-month program, June 1 through July 31."

Jefferson County Public Library has offered the kids and teen Summer Reading Clubs since the mid-1970s. The 2008 program marks the fourth year for an Adult Summer Reading Club.

This year, adult program signups topped 1,300 in the first week and a total of 229 books read. Each book read earns the reader an entry into a prize drawing, held in early August.

The program is funded by the Jefferson County Library Foundation and Friends of the Jefferson County Public Library. The goal is to provide a fun way to encourage especially children and teens to keep reading skills sharp between school years and to develop the life-long love of reading for all participants.