What Works: Summer Reading
April Graziano

Summer reading programs vary greatly in design and extent. Some programs are run by public libraries, while others are run by schools. Of the school programs, some programs are designed by teachers and administrators with little or no involvement by the school library staff. Still other programs are run by the school library media specialist with little or no involvement by the teachers and administrators. The ideas listed below are arranged in groups by Public Library or School Programs, and Programs with Multiple Libraries Involved. Each suggestion is intended to initiate or increase the school library media specialist's role in summer reading programs.

Public Library or School Programs

• Assist in program planning. Many people who run summer reading programs welcome professionals who are willing to help. Starting with limited involvement will help the school librarian determine if he or she would like to become more involved in the program in successive years. This help could include attending brainstorming meetings, preparing flyers and record keeping materials, and advertising the program.
• Share resources. School library resources, with administrator approval, could be loaned to the public library. The resources could be given temporary barcode numbers in the public library system so that they could be checked out to students during the summer.
• Assist in program implementation. There are countless ways to help while the program is running, depending on the way the summer reading program is designed. One way to help while school is still in session is to distribute and collect summer reading forms and materials within the school. By doing this the library media specialist would be able to help increase the participation rate and lessen the communication difficulties for the public library.

Advertise the program's success. Post the public library's pictures or flyers from the summer reading program activities and results. Also, display copies of any articles published in the local newspapers, or samples of student work.

Programs with Multiple Libraries Involved

• Define roles for each librarian. Joint summer reading programs can create a lot of confusion if the participants' roles are not clearly defined. But by deciding exactly what each participant will do, the joint program can reach more students or be more involved than a program that is run by one library.
• Determine the student group for each library. For summer reading programs with a wide range of age levels, the libraries could host the activities for different student groups. Similarly, multiple sites for the same age ranges could enable more students to participate by overcoming transportation or scheduling obstacles for the students.
• Schedule activities for each library. Each library has its own strengths and weaknesses, but each needs to benefit from positive outcomes from the summer reading program. If a program will begin in one library, it could end in another so that each could be the site of a special kick-off, incentive event, or recognition ceremony.
• Determine which resources will be used. If all the books will be from one library, the other library could produce and/or print flyers, posters, etc. If all the events will be hosted by one library, the other library could be responsible for bringing cameras to take pictures of the events and printing or developing those images.

This column has been created to provide a way for Media Forum Online readers to share successful ideas with their colleagues. In this issue, the column has been written with ideas gathered by the author. If you have successful ideas that you would like to share, please send them to April Graziano at agraziano_pps@yahoo.com and let your colleagues know What Works.