Summer Reading Programs: Home
Summer reading programs began in the 1890s as a way to encourage school children, particularly those in urban areas and not needed for farm work, to read during their summer vacation, use the library and develop the habit of reading.
"Make an important part of your summer's work the inviting children who do not use the Library to do so. A great many boys and girls [...] often do not know what to do with themselves all day long. Tell them of all the pleasure they can get from the stories, the books of adventure, the histories, and the books telling how to do and make things which will add to their vacation good times; tell them of the best books you have read, and explain to them how they can get library cards and draw books themselves."
- Linda Eastman, American Library Association president (1928-29) and head librarian, Cleveland Public Library
This guide provides an overview of summer reading programs, including research and resources on the benefits of programming, sample programming, and a bibliography and resources on starting a library summer reading program.
Summer Reading Program Resources
- Adopting a Summer Learning Approach for Increased Impact: a YALSA Position PaperThis position paper is meant to help guide libraries as they re-envision the services and programs they provide youth during the summer months.
- Collaborative Summer Library ProgramThe Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries.
- 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.
- Reading Rockets - Summer ReadingResources and articles provide information about summer reading and summer learning loss. Plus discover great activities to encourage kids to learn, read, and have fun in the summer sun.
- Summer Meals at the LibraryLibraries are natural spaces for serving meals to children whose access to lunch disappears when school ends and summer begins.
- Thinking Outside the Book: Summer ReadingIn an effort to prevent regression, encourage summer reading by providing literacy-rich activities to keep students motivated. Using online resources is one way to keep literacy activities fresh this summer.
Program Evaluation
- Evaluating Summer Reading ProgramsWhile there is a plethora of literature pertaining to Summer Reading Programs (SRPs), there is little literature that focuses on the evaluation of these programs. What literature there is can be conveniently divided into two broad categories: summer school programs and public library SRPs.
- Make a Splash with Project Outcome: Measuring the Success of Summer Reading ProgramsThis free webinar is designed to teach participants how to administer Project Outcome surveys to measure outcomes for their library’s summer reading program. By successfully administering surveys, libraries are able to use the results to showcase program successes and influence future summer reading programs.