Summer Library Program offers ‘Read and Win’ ribbon

Children who meet their reading goals through the annual Summer Library Program can earn a “Read and Win” ribbon being offered through nine county and community fairs in Wisconsin.

“Libraries throughout Wisconsin are now registering youth and teens for the annual Summer Library Program, which encourages recreational reading during the break from school,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “As an incentive this year, the International Association of Fairs and Expositions has donated reading ribbons to reward children who reach their reading goals.”

Children sign up for the Summer Library Program at their local library. This year’s children’s theme, Paws, Claws, Scales & Tales, focuses on pets: The companion teen theme, Creature Feature, encourages learning about animals “from the wild side.”

The Summer Library Program encourages children to read a certain number of pages, books, or minutes over a period of time. Many libraries offer incentives like bookmarks, stickers, or other prizes, in addition to certificates for admission to the Wisconsin State Fair or one of nine participating county or community fairs.

Children take their county fair coupon—good for free admission at the Dane County Fair in Madison, Northern Wisconsin State Fair in Chippewa Falls, Pierce County Fair in Ellsworth, or Sawyer County Fair in Hayward—and present it for their “Read and Win” ribbon. Other fairs participating in the “Read and Win” program are the Elroy Fair in Elroy, Florence County Fair in Florence, Iowa County Fair in Mineral Point, Monroe County Fair in Tomah, and St. Croix County Fair in Glenwood City. Children can retain the coupon and visit multiple fairs participating in the program.

“Research has identified reading for pleasure, self-selection of books, and having fun while reading to be extremely important for literacy,” Burmaster said. “Children’s summer recreational reading will help them maintain and improve their reading skills and let them be part of the excitement and fun of county fairs throughout the state.”

Wisconsin is a member of the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a grassroots consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials. Last summer, 156,927 children participated in the Wisconsin Summer Library Program through their local public library. That participation included 40,584 children ages 5 and younger. Many of Wisconsin’s Summer Library Programs include literacy development events that bring in special readers, musicians, performers, and informational speakers that connect with the program theme. Total attendance at public library special events and performances last summer was close to 400,000.

More information about the Summer Library Program is available at local libraries or on the Department of Public Instruction’s Summer Library Program website at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/slp.html.

Last updated on 7/10/2006