From the desk of Carolyn Petersen

Schools are out and kids are signing up in droves to participate in their public library’s summer reading program.

Research has shown that children who continue to read over the summer maintain their reading skills and that summer involvement with reading leads to better academic skills when children return to school in the fall.

Summer reading isn’t just for grade school children. In addition to grade school children, preschoolers, teens, and adults can find programs to encourage them to read at public libraries. This year’s theme is sports related: On your mark, get set….Read.

The Washington State Library supports public libraries across the state by participating in a nationwide consortium of youth services librarians who voluntarily contribute the program ideas and processes which make up the resource manual. The State Library pays for each public and tribal library location to receive a copy of this manual in the fall of the year so that they can begin planning for the following summer.

Make reading and learning a regular part of summer by joining others in your community for lots of good reads and special programs at your local public library.