IMLS Summarizes Research on the Importance of Children's Summer Reading

Jeannine Mjoseth with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) released the following information about the importance of summer reading for youth in May 2008.

For many children, summer holds the promise of swimming pools and summer camps. But parents know that it's also a time when children can lose valuable educational gains made during the school year -- an average student who doesn't read or engage in other learning opportunities can lose as much as 2.5 months of learning over the summer! The nation's libraries and museums stand ready to help children and youth enjoy exciting summer time activities and retain their educational gains.

Libraries have been as busy as bees. "Catch the Reading Bug" is the theme for this year's national Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) reading program. For teens, the theme is "Metamorphosis." The program's 46 state members provide high-quality, low-cost summer reading program materials for children. IMLS funds many of the programs through the Library Services and Technology Act.

"Summer is a great time of year for children to choose books and discover the true joys of reading," said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). "Many libraries have adult reading programs and intergenerational programs, so the whole family can participate."

Many states customize their summer reading themes. For example, the Colorado State Library is partnering with the non-profit Butterfly Pavilion on an activity page that may be used as an admission "ticket" to the Butterfly Pavilion in August and September. Other states have followed suit:

• New York has translated Six Easy Ways to Get Your Kids to Read this Summer into Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Korean, Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, and Russian.
• In Wisconsin, Pam Carlson created a Summer Reading Game called "Who Will Be the Next Etymologist," in which young library patrons complete a series of educational bug-related tasks.
• The Virginia state library posted the public service cartoon promoting summer reading in English and Spanish on Youtube.com at http://www.youtube.com/user/LibraryofVa.

Museums are also swinging into action. Many children's museums, science centers, zoos and aquariums participate in reciprocity programs so your membership at one gets you free admission or other perks at others. IMLS supports many summer museum programs, including:

• The Adventure Science Center in Nashville, TN, which will host free science camps for at-risk third through sixth grade students from June 23-July 18. (Museums for America grant)
• The Summer Safari day camp at the Atlanta Fulton County Zoo, in Atlanta, GA. Volunteens, ages 13-17, will help out at this camp, for children ages 4-13. (Museums for America grant)
• Summer archaeology and field ecology programs, hosted by The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut in Mashantucket, CT, for Pequot children and their non-Native peers. (Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grant)
• "Mini-camps," co-sponsored by the Staten Island Children's Museum in Staten Island, NY, that are expressly for children with anxiety and attention disorders. At these camps, they can paint, sculpt, garden, and cook with other children. (Museums for America grant)

"By taking their kids to libraries and museums, parents can minimize the effects of summer vacation on learning," Radice said. "Libraries and museums are also a great place to meet new friends and build social networks in person and online. It's fun for everyone."

More resources

1. To learn more about the National Collaborative Summer Library Program, please visit: http://www.cslpreads.org.
2. For more information on summer learning loss, please visit the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning Web site at http://www.summerlearning.org
3. For more information on family literacy, please visit the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) Web site at www.famlit.org. Many of the materials are in English and Spanish.

Summer Learning Tips

To minimize children's summer learning loss, IMLS offers tips for parents:

1. Visit your local library and sign up your kids for the summer reading program.
2. Read to and with your kids. Be an example to your kids by doing some reading yourself.
3. Use the library to explore your child's interests. Ask the librarian how to find books, Web sites and other resources to nurture your child's curiosity.
4. Plan low-cost, educational field trips to local parks, zoos, and museums.
5. Check out free programs and day camps at your local library or museum.

To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov. This is a text-only press release from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). An HTML version of this release can be read on the agency's Web site at www.imls.gov/news/2008/052808.shtm. For questions about this information, contact Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov; 202-653-4632

For questions about this information, contact Barbara A. Huntington (608) 267-5077

Last updated on 6/3/2008 10:20:24 AM