Summer Reading Programs
Research conducted by the National Center for Educational Statistics found that in 1994, 95% of public libraries offered summer reading programs for children; there are not statistics for adult summer programs.
As noted in our press release dated October 14, 2015, New research highlights libraries' expanded roles, findings of the 2014 Digital Inclusion Survey National Report included -- and similarly concluded:
95 percent of libraries offer summer reading programs to forestall the “summer slide” in reading achievement experienced when learning takes a holiday between school terms
The National Summer Learning Association, which offers some pertinent points as well as full text articles and abstracts on its pages, Know the Facts, and Research in Brief, serves as a network hub for thousands of summer learning program providers and stakeholders across the country, providing tools, resources, and expertise to improve program quality, generate support, and increase youth access and participation. Its vision is for every child to be safe, healthy, and engaged in learning during the summer, and its mission, to realize that vision, is to connect and equip schools, providers, communities, and families to deliver high-quality summer learning opportunities to our nation's youth to help close the achievement gap and support healthy development.
Check for the availability of additional research on summer reading programs at your local library.
- Digital Inclusion Survey (ALA)ALA convened a diverse collection of digital inclusion advocates to explore the ways in which libraries are leading the way in building digitally inclusive communities that support individual opportunity and community progress.
- National summer learning associationThe National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) is the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement gap through high-quality summer learning for all children and youth.
- NCES - Survey on library services for children in public librariesThe Survey on Library Services for Children in Public Libraries included questions regarding the availability of specialized staff and resources for children and the adults who live and work with them, the use of available services, the prevalence of cooperative activities between public libraries and other organizations serving children, and barriers to providing increased library services for children.
Research Resources
- ALA's WorldCat List about Summer Reading ProgramsResources for planning summer reading programs. For recommended reading, see our "Readers Advisory" lists.
- CSLP Summer Reading White PaperThe Collaborative Summer Learning Program (CSLP) partnered with NPC Research to review the existing literature on summer reading and to critically examine the evidence base related to the need for, and the effectiveness of, summer reading programs.
- Dominican Study: Public library summer reading programs close the reading gapStudents who participated in the public library summer reading program scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year than those students who did not participated and they gained in other ways as well.
- Evite el Retraso Que Ocurre Durante el Verano (Spanish)Written by the Colorado Department of Education to keep students reading all year long.
- Importance of Summer ReadingA research brief on summer reading and public library summer reading programs by the New York State Library.
- iREAD Summer Reading ResearchA collection of resources put together by iREAD to help with planning a summer reading program and/or studies on the impact of summer reading programs.
- Literacy Research (Wisconsin DPL)Library reading programs are a common component of literacy offerings. Library reading programs generally encourage readers of all ages to sign up and keep track of their reading habits for a certain length of time.
- Prevent Summer Set-backWritten by the Colorado Department of Education to help keep students reading all year long.
- Public Library Summer Reading Programs Contribute to Reading Progress and ProficiencyA review of Roman, S., & Fiore, C. (2010). Do public library summer reading programs close the achievement gap? Children and Libraries, (Winter), 27-31.
- Read for SuccessA program intervention designed to help early elementary students excel at reading. Tested over a two-year period as part of an Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, (Reading is Fundamental) RIF’s evidence-based program is proven to increase students’ reading proficiency and curb the summer learning slide – a contributing factor to the achievement gap.
- The Role of Public Libraries in Children's Literacy DevelpmentThis evaluation examines a crucial facet of public libraries’ services: children’s summer reading and preschool programs. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, this evaluation examines how children’s preschool and summer reading programs contribute to their reading skills.
- Last Updated: May 16, 2019 12:50 PM
- URL: https://libguides.ala.org/summer-reading
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