Summer Reading Program aims to make big splash
GPLS News, April 2010
Joseph Fuller, 12, and Justin Stallworth, 7, share a story at the West Georgia Regional Library System's Whitesburg Public Library.
Georgia's public libraries are encouraging children to "Make a Splash @ Your Library" in the 2010 edition of the annual Summer Reading Program. The goals of this year's activities and materials are to promote family literacy and demonstrate to kids that reading is fun. Nearly 1.5 million people attended a children's program at one of the state's public libraries in 2009, and circulation of children's materials last year exceeded 18.7 million items.
According to Elaine Black, director of Youth Services for GPLS, studies have shown that school-age children who continue to read throughout their vacation from school maintain or improve writing, vocabulary and reading skills, while children who do not read are more likely to see their skills decrease. "Reading as few as five books over the summer months can help children maintain their reading levels so that when school begins, they are not behind in reading skills but ready to move forward," she said.
Henry Cole is the artist for this year's children's program. He is the author and illustrator of numerous acclaimed books, including I Took a Walk, On the Way to the Beach, On Meadowview Street and Trudy. He has also collaborated on numerous books with other children's writers, such as Pamela Duncan Edwards, Margie Palatini and Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Henry's first novel, A Nest for Celeste, was released in February.
The artist for the teen program, "Make Waves @ Your Library," is Ursula Vernon, author and illustrator of Dragonbreath, Nurk, Digger and several other projects. Her work has been nominated for an Esther Award and for several Webcomics Choice Awards. The self-described "creator of random oddities" will soon publish book three of her Dragonbreath saga, Curse of the Were-Wiener.
This is Georgia's third year as a member of the nationwide Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries. By combining resources and working with a commercial vendor to produce materials designed exclusively for CSLP members, public libraries in participating states can purchase posters, reading logs, bookmarks, certificates and a variety of reading incentives at significant savings.
"It's also great for families that travel between states to visit relatives during their summer vacations," Black said. "They can be part of the same program across 45 states."
Black said the consortium has delivered an extremely unified and high-quality program every year since its inception. "The themes and slogans are voted on each year by the membership," she explained. "State library staff members make suggestions, and their master list is whittled down to a top five. Representatives from each member state then vote for their choice from that list."
Public libraries across Georgia will support this year's summer reading effort by offering reading logs, bookmarks and stickers -- and by hosting activities such as storytimes, puppet shows and other special events such as arts-and-crafts programs and magic shows. As with Georgia's previous programs, children receive rewards for achieving reading goals. Kids can sign up and get their reading materials at public libraries across the state, beginning in May.
"The teen program is equally outstanding," Black said, "because it encourages teens to be creative -- and have positive social interactions with their peers and adults. The artwork this year does an especially good job of reinforcing the idea that libraries can be cool places for teens to gather."
In connection with this year's summer reading programs, the Path2College 529 Plan, Georgia's state-sponsored 529 college savings plan, will also partner with public libraries across the state to offer the inaugural "Make a Splash -- Save for College Sweepstakes." As a result, one lucky participant this year will win more than $5,000 to apply toward their future education. The Path2College 529 Plan, managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc., will sponsor the sweepstakes, which will launch May 1 and run through July 31. At its conclusion, the grand prize winner will receive $5,529 toward a Path2College 529 Plan account, and the home library of the winner will receive $1,000 to be used for its children's and teen's department. Information will be available and entries can be submitted online beginning May 1 at www.path2college529.com.
Georgia public libraries' annual Summer Reading Program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to Georgia Public Library Service under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. Visit www.georgialibraries.org for additional information about "Make a Splash @ Your Library," "Make Waves @ Your Library" and other literacy activities.
