Read! Think! Create! @ your Library(tm)

Sunny Vandermark , Regional Administrator
Metrowest Massachusetts Regional Library System

That's the theme for the 2003 statewide summer reading program sponsored by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems. This popular reading program, with its inviting message to young readers and specially designed artwork, creates wonderful opportunities for partnerships between libraries and their communities.

Each library that is a member of one of the six regional library systems is eligible to participate in the program. At a participating library, librarians design a program unique to their young readers and community using the theme selected for the current year, such as this year's Read! Think! Create! @ your Library(tm) . Children's and young adult librarians view this year's theme as an opportunity "to go beyond reading to the worlds of imagination and creativity which reading can open. To motivate ... readers with program ideas about music, art, vision, inspiration, originality, expression, performance and more..." The specially designed materials and original artwork commissioned each summer by the regional systems for the program are wonderful tools to assist with developing programs at the local level. Not to mention the added bonus of cool prizes, such as bike water bottles and t-shirts labeled with the themed artwork, that libraries may order to encourage young readers as they read their books throughout the summer.

The Massachusetts Regional Library Systems sponsor the summer reading program in partnership with local libraries for two primary reasons:

• to help children maintain their reading skills during the summer.
• to encourage Massachusetts communities to recognize their libraries as vital resources for learning and growing.

Interested? This program is for school libraries as well as public libraries. To learn more, contact the Regional Library System office nearest to your town or city. To find out which region you reside in, visit the MSLMA web page http://www.mslma.org/whoweare/regions.html to see which towns are in each region.

Boston Regional Library System
Boston Public Library-Regional Services Office
700 Boylston Street
Copley Square
Boston, MA 02117
617-859-2380

Central Massachusetts Regional Library System
8 Flagg Road
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
508-757-4110

Metrowest Massachusetts Regional Library System
135 Beaver Street
Waltham, MA 02452
781-398-1819

Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System
175 Andover St
Danvers, MA 01923
978-762-4433

Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Library System
10 Riverside Drive
Lakeville, MA 02347
508-923-3531

Western Massachusetts Regional Library System
58 Main Street
Hatfield MA 01038
413/247-9306