On March 5, 2024, Governor Gordon signed legislation to make every third Tuesday in May “Wyoming Reads Day”, an official state holiday. The legislation was sponsored by Representative Art Washut during the 2024 Wyoming Legislative budget session earlier this month.
Wyoming Reads is a literacy program of the Sue Jorgenson Foundation, established in 1996 to honor the memory of Sue Jorgenson. This program annually provides a new hardcover book to every Wyoming first-grader. It began as a community program in 1999 and, within ten years, grew into a statewide celebration of reading and books. Wyoming Reads recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with its May 2023 event.
This year’s Wyoming Reads event will take place on Wyoming Reads Day, May 21, 2024. Ten books have been selected and are on display at the Wyoming State Library. Each Wyoming first-grader has had the opportunity to choose their book from the list of ten and will receive their book at the May celebration.