Summer Reading at New York Libraries logoLaunch Event, June 19

“The Coolest Place to Be This Summer”:

Local Libraries Offer Place to Find Your Voice, Says Kid-Hop Artist

A crowd of youngsters and their parents enjoyed the “kid-hop” sounds of Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, who was named 2010 spokesperson for the “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” program. The statewide public library summer reading program was launched on Saturday June 19th at the Queens Library at Langston Hughes, Corona. N.Y.

Dancing around the stage while performing some of his family-friendly hits, 23 Skidoo, the popular recording artist from Asheville, North Carolina, told the crowd, “My whole job as someone who writes songs depends on my vocabulary and my ability to write worlds with words. I believe that words can change you and we can change the world with words.”

Langston Hughes Library Director Andrew P. Jackson opened the program and welcomed all to the library. 23 Skidoo was introduced by Jeffrey W. Cannell, Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Education for the New York State Education Department, who encouraged kids to join the 1.5 million participants each year in the fun of summer reading. The annual free program is coordinated by the New York State Library and is offered in more than 1,100 public libraries throughout the state.

With his five-person band, 23 Skidoo performed his original song, “Make Waves at Your Library”, which he recorded for the national library collaborative which promotes summer reading. For a crowd of cheering kids, he also performed his hits, “I Gotta Be Me” and Family Tree”, which encourage kids to be free of peer pressure and shrug off bullying while also promoting bonds between children and parents. “I spent a lot of time reading as a kid, both being read to by my parents and being encouraged to read by myself, and now I do the exact same thing for my daughter Saki,” said 23 Skidoo. “I am very happy that our love of books has been passed down to her because in this generation a lot of the love of books is starting to go elsewhere like television and the Internet. To me there is nothing like holding a book and reading.”

Cannell also introduced Queens Library Deputy Director Maureen O'Connor and members of the New York State Board of Regents Dr. Geraldine Chapey and Roger Tilles, who each shared their thoughts about the importance of summer reading in maintaining reading levels for students when they return to school in the fall.

“The Summer Reading at New York Libraries program offers opportunities for kids of all ages to “make waves” this summer at their local libraries,” said Cannell. “Studies have found that when schools close their doors, the opportunity to read is often closed with them, especially for those children without access to books.”

There are many resources available for librarians, parents, educators, children and teens at the program’s web site, www.summerreadingnys.orgexternal link opens in a new window. Visitors can access promotional flyers, fact sheets, tip sheets, recommended web site links, book lists and reading-related puzzles, games and activities.

The New York State Library partners with 48 other states as part of the national Collaborative Summer Library Program to share best practices and ideas for program goals, activities and themes. Summer Reading at New York Libraries is a program of the New York State Library in the Office of Cultural Education in the New York State Education Department and is funded through the Federal Library Services and Technology Act, with funds awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo performs at Summer Reading kickoff event June 19
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, named Spokesperson for the 2010 “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” program, tells kids it’s “cool” to go to the library and read.

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and others perform at Summer Reading kickoff event June 19
With his five-person band, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo performed “Makes Waves at Your Library” and other original kid-hop songs. From left to right, Mahira, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, DJ Mr. Strange, Bootysattiva, and MC Fireworks (23 Skidoo’s wife Brooke and their daughter Saki).
Jeff Cannell speaks at Summer Reading kickoff event June 19
Jeffrey W. Cannell, Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Education for the New York State Education Department
Regent Chapey speaks at Summer Reading kickoff event June 19
Regent for Queens, Dr. Geraldine Chapey told the crowd of kids and parents, “Libraries give you whatever you need to find out who you want to be, and how you can get there.”
Regent Tilles speaks at Summer Reading kickoff event June 19

Regent for Long Island, Roger Tilles told the crowd, “Summer Reading at New York Libraries encourages reading for fun, which keeps the gears going, and as research shows, that can make a critical difference in how a child performs when the school bells ring again in the fall.”

Summer Reading at New York Libraries is funded through the Federal Library Services and Technology Act, with funds awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The New York State Library is a program of the Office of Cultural Education in the New York State Education Department.

Last Updated: June 23, 2010 -- asm