Library Development

Summer Reading Programs are Fun and Promote Literacy!

Public libraries across the State encourage reading through the Summer Reading at New York Libraries program. For summer readers, the night is full of dreams and infinite possibilities. In 2013, children will be invited to Dig into Reading! (artwork by children's book illustrator, Scott Nash), and teens will go Beneath the Surface (artwork by illustrator, Duncan Long).

Children and families visit public libraries to choose what they want to read as part of a summertime mix of activities. In 2012, over 1.7 million children participated in summer reading fun at their local libraries.

Experts in the fields of child brain development and reading research agree that literacy skills develop early and are strengthened when children read during the summer months. Summer Reading at New York Libraries reaches families with children from birth through age 18. For a compilation of the latest research on the importance of reading and access to books during the summer months, see the State Education Department Research Brief.

State, Local and National Partnerships Keep Kids Reading!

Summer Reading at New York Libraries continues to strengthen its relationships with the NYS Assembly and Senate, New York Sate’s Public Broadcasting Stations, and all New York schools. Shared materials and expertise create collaborations that support summer reading for all children.

Summer Reading at New York Libraries partnerships provide resources to all public libraries and families. Partnerships with the New York Council for the Humanities' "Together Book Club," Cornell Cooperative Extension's "4-H Youth Development," NYS Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Inc., and Hunger Solutions New York offer extensive resources for children, parents and educators. Access to these partners and additional resources are available through www.summerreadingnys.org.

Local public libraries work with museums, science organizations and clubs, and partner with a variety of family oriented and education institutions in their community to provide a wealth of resources to all children and teens in their community. The New York State Library participates in the national Collaborative Summer Library Program. The State Library provides a Summer Reading Program manual that contains creative ideas, engaging projects, multilingual materials and extensive reading lists to 1,100 public libraries and neighborhood branches.

Summer Reading at New York Libraries Web Sites

The official Summer Reading at New York Libraries web site (opens in a new window) offers children and
teens lots of free reading activities, games, links, suggested reading lists, as well as valuable information for
families, caregivers, librarians, and educators.

This State Library web page contains information and links for librarians, educators and other professionals on summer reading, summer reading research, and the Summer Reading at New York Libraries program.

The Performers and Programs Database includes a listing of performers and the programs they offer for libraries, schools and other organizations serving youth.

Collaborative Summer Library Program. CSLP is a nationwide consortium of state library systems dedicated to developing each year's program components, artwork, and promotional materials.

The Teen NY Facebook page includes information and resources for teens and librarians and others working with teens. Please visit Teen NY and “like” us.

For additional information, contact:

Karen Balsen, Summer Reading at New York Libraries Coordinator, New York State Library, Division of Library Development, 518-486-2194.

This document also available as a two-page flyer in .PDF [1.29 Meg]