Feature Stories

Adult Summer Reading at Findlay Hancock County Public Library

Choose to Read Ohio: Read Together, Read Ohio, Read for Life!

Collaborative Summer Opportunities from ODNR

Common Reading Experience at Bowling Green State University

Links & Galleries about Ohio Summer Reading Programs

Make a Splash Everywhere with the Collaborative Summer Library Program!

Paws to Read at Swanton Public Library

Set Sail for the Way Public Library!

Summer Reading at Harris-Elmore Public Library

Summer Reading Programs
State Librarian's Report

Summer Reading programs have long been a staple of public library programming.  Many years ago, summer reading was a simple means of giving children something to do in the long summer months. It could be as basic as a piece of notebook paper listing titles read.  And, when a certain number of books were read, you were done. There was usually a small prize at the end, sometimes even a party.

Summer reading programs have changed over the years, although they remain a primary focus of most public libraries’ summer and children’s programming.  Now they usually have a theme, artwork, and standardized forms to keep track of books read.  There are speakers, programs, and activities throughout the summer and many public libraries find community sponsors to help them cover summer reading costs.

Ohio is one of 48 states that is part of the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP).  An article by Library Development Consultant Janet Ingraham Dwyer talks about the collaborative and this year’s theme.  By having a statewide theme, local public libraries can concentrate their small staffs and limited budgets on doing quality programming geared for their community.

Summer reading programs, however, are much more than a way to entertain children and give them something to do during the summer months.  Educational studies indicate that students who do not engage in educational experiences during the summer experience significant learning losses.  Research has shown that students lose about three months of their reading gains if they do not read over the summer. Over the elementary and middle-school years, this can add up to a quite significant number because, unfortunately, children do not “catch-up” in the fall.  Summer reading loss is cumulative. Additionally, some researchers estimate that the summer learning loss can result in an achievement gap of over 50% for children living in poverty.  By participating in a summer reading program, students retain (or gain) in the areas of reading comprehension levels, vocabulary skills, and reading rate.  And, because students get to select their reading material, they are more likely to enjoy the subject matter, be engaged in what they are reading and want to read more!  (For additional information see the ALA Summer Reading Programs Fact Sheet.)

As you read this month’s The NEWS you will see the breadth that summer reading programs encompass in today’s library environment.  Summer Reading has grown beyond the traditional definition of programming for pre-school through middle-school.  Today, many libraries offer teen summer reading programs and adult summer reading programs, examples of which you will read about in this issue.  Some libraries, like Swanton Local School District Public Library, have a very specialized component in their summer reading program.  Schools, which traditionally left summer reading to the public library, are becoming more active in summer reading as a means to keep students learning throughout the year.  Even academic institutions, such as Bowling Green State University, are embracing some form of summer reading.  As you read this issue, we hope that you gain new knowledge and fresh ideas for summer reading in your community.

Missy Lodge
Interim State Librarian of Ohio

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