Title: Summer Reading

Day of the week/Time: mid June-end of August. This will correspond with the dates the local school system is on summer vacation.

Ages: 0-18

Goals: Have children continue to participate in learning activities throughout the summer.

Reasoning for Program: Throughout the summer children who do not participate in learning activities are likely to fall behind in reading when they return to school in the Fall. To help keep their skills up the library provides a program that rewards children for continuing to learn throughout the summer. Additional programming is also provided at the library to motivate children to come into the library and participate in programs that encourage fun and literacy.

Activities: The main activity for summer reading is to have children keep track of the things they do over the summer that involve learning. Depending on the child’s age this could include reading, being read to, singing, writing, doing science experiences, cooking and following directions, attending a play, or going to the library for a program. Patrons will be divided by age/grade: 0-4, Kindergarten-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, and 9th-12th grade. They will have different learning goals which they will keep track of on a gameboard provided by the library. Once they reach their goals they will come to the library for a prize that is also related to learning, such as a book, tickets to local learning organizations (Children’s Museum, Art Museum, Zoo,etc.). For example, patrons in grades Kindergarten-5th will mark a spot on the gameboard for every day they participate in a learning activity for 30 minutes. Once they have 15 squares marked off they will come in for a prize. They will also be eligible for a prize at 30 days and 45 days.

Through the summer the library will have increased programming. This will include a kick off and end of the summer party. Other activities will be author talks, science experiments, movie and book clubs, and outdoor games.

Supplies: Gameboards, promotional materials (fliers & bookmarks), prizes, supplies for additional craft programs.

Staff: All library staff will be involved at some level, even if it is just promoting to patrons during regular interactions. The program will be lead by the youth librarian. The library will recruit an additional 40 volunteers just to help out with summer reading.

Community Partners: Local learning organizations, performers, volunteers.

Budget: $5000, half of the funding will come from the Friends of the Library. This cost includes prizes, printing, and costs of programs.

Photo/Video Credit: Milillo, L. (2015). Read all the books [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://teenlibraryresources.blogspot.com/2015/05/happy-mondaylet-summer-reading-commence.html

Pilkey, D. (Creator). (2016). Summer reading PSA by Dav Pilkey [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gm68Ovhc0M

The Daring Librarian. (2017). Summer reading [Drawing]. Retrieved from https://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/2017/06/summer-reading.html