By participating in the program, students, teachers and friends can earn points - and free books for school media centers or the public library - by reading books and taking tests during the summer. 

"The turnout for our opening day festivities was gratifyingly large," said Dr. Chip Pfister, TCFEE president-elect. "This clearly demonstrates the community's support for the summer reading program. I hope everyone takes away an enthusiasm for reading and a desire to participate in the program." "This is an excellent and unique program," added TCFEE Executive Director
Mike Brumby. "The program is possible because of the efforts of three groups: the Tifton-Tift County Public Library, the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence and the Board of Education. But it is really a community effort. Everyone gets involved, and we have a lot of volunteers who all help make the program possible. If something in the community is
valued, it will be successful. I'd like for this program to grow even more as a source of community pride." 

The summer program, which first began in 1997, lasts for eight weeks. AR books are available at the Tifton-Tift County Public Library, where they are marked with a green dot, or at the Reading Center, located at 216 Tift Ave. (the old EMS Building). Tests can be taken at the Reading Center, which will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays through July 22. Tests
taken at summer school and migrant summer school will also count.

This summer, 4-H Club members will help monitor testing at the center. Two volunteers will be available during testing times. The start of the Summer AR Program also marks the beginning of the annual quest for the Reading Cup, donated by the Tifton Rotary Club. The Reading Cup is presented to the civic club that earns the most AR points during the
summer. 

"The summer reading program is great for Tifton," said Joe Lewis, Vice Mayor for the City of Tifton. "The program brings family and community together, uniting them and giving them something to rally around - the common interest in reading. Our reading program also portrays a favorable image at both the state and national levels."

"I've worked as a librarian for many communities, and I've never seen a community come together like Tifton does," added Teresa Cole, Director of the Coastal Plain Regional Library System. "And I can't think of a better goal to work toward than reading." Brumby said Tifton currently has 2,087,152 AR points. The goal for the summer is 20,000 or more points.