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Feature Stories
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 Ruth Metcalf, Library Consultant
State Library of Ohio
In 2004 the State Library decided to join the national Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) – www.cslpreads.org. This group began in 1987 when ten Minnesota regional library systems developed a summer library program for children by choosing a theme, creating artwork and selecting incentives that public libraries in the regions could purchase and use. Currently, there are forty-eight states and regional library systems participating in CSLP. Themes are chosen two years in advance. Themes the State Library has participated in include:
2004 – “Discover New Trails @ Your Library”
2005 – “Dragons, Dreams, and Daring Deeds”
2006 – “Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales”
2007 – “Get a Clue @ Your Library”
2008 – “Catch the Reading Bug”
2009 – “Be Creative @ Your Library”
Future themes
2010 – “Make a Splash @ Your Library”
2011 – “World Cultures and Travel”
The State Library of Ohio joined CSLP because we wanted to continue to offer high quality resources to children’s librarians in our state. There is strength in numbers and our membership allows us more buying power to offer high quality posters, reading logs, bookmarks, certificates and a variety of reading incentives at significant savings.
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Display at one of the Be Creative at Your Library Summer Reading Program workshops |
Since Ohio is a member of the national CSLP collaborative, Ohio libraries are members as well. As CSLP members, we are able to access all of the artwork, incentives, and publicity, as well as an extensive manual of programming and promotional ideas.
Ruth Metcalf is the State of Ohio representative to CSLP. Laura Lee Wilson, Head of Children’s Services, Holmes County District Library, is the current CSLP Website Chair.
Each year CSLP hosts an annual meeting where we discuss past and future themes for the program.
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Ohio libraries and the librarians receiving the CSLP manual and materials are an integral part of the national summer library program. CSLP is a member driven organization and we need your suggestions for ideas for current and future themes.
The guiding principle of CSLP fits well with the State Library’s philosophy of service to Ohio – to offer a high-quality summer reading program at a significant savings to our librarians. Questions about the Ohio summer reading program may be directed to:
Ruth Metcalf, Library Consultant, State Library of Ohio, rmetcalf@sloma.state.oh.us.