Ten percent more children signed up for last summer's Albany Public Library reading program than the previous year's all-time record, said Children's Librarian Scott Keeney.

Keeney recently compiled summer reading statistics for Librarian Ed Gallagher and for members of the Friends of the Library.

"I credit the increase to several things: great programs; a staff that loves, is interested and cares about children; we are marketing the library in schools; and to families in Albany that want to enrich and educate their children during summers," Keeney said.

The library gave 2,000 books away to children during the summer, and for the first time, special programs were offered to preschoolers. Those children had been excluded from programs for older kids because presentations were too crowded for the smaller children, Keeney said.

"I had to turn families away once from each library," because of the number wanting to attend, Keeney said.

The total registration for the summer reading program was 2,182 children. Participation has more than doubled since summer 2003, he said.

There were 298 children in the program at the downtown Carnegie Library and 1,884 at the main library.

The books were given to children who read for five hours, according to a reading log they kept. The log was presented to the librarian at the children's desk, it was initialed, and then the child selected a book from a cartful of titles.

"Probably 90 percent of the children who signed up got a free book," Keeney said.

The books are donated by staff and library patrons, they come from garage sales, and from Goodwill and the Salvation Army. The library uses State of Oregon Ready to Read grant money and funds raised by the Friends of the Library to purchase some of the books.

"It's great fun to watch children of all ages shop for their prize, and even better, to watch them treasure the books they pick to own," he said.

Because of a reduction in state money for purchasing books for some age groups, the library in the future will ask the Friends of the Library for assistance in buying books and supplies and paying for special programs.

The most popular children's summer program was The New World Zoo Crue, featuring a number of animals. The least popular was Bored Board Game Day. Keeney suspects that was because children no longer play old-style board games.

Another big hit was Rozy Weatherby's Teddy Bear Picnic.