Director of Libraries Message for July
We’re entering the height of Summer and for many of us that means using our time off to head to the beach, enjoy the waves, meet up with friends in the parks, hike mountain trails, or take family vacations. In libraries it also means it’s time for the Summer Reading Program!
Summer Reading challenges have been a core program at libraries for generations, and while a lot of attention is given to maintaining reading logs to compete for prizes, it’s really about so much more.
There are numerous studies that show students can lose skills in reading and math in the summer breaks between school years. This is called the “Summer Slide”. In some cases, students can lose up to 2 months worth of skills and if not addressed by the time they reach high school, they can find themselves in a serious achievement gap. Libraries offer Summer Reading to help mitigate this learning loss and reinforce that reading is not just an activity associated with school. Studies also show that students who can choose for themselves what they want to read are more likely to become regular readers, and the many programs we offer help reinforce a sense of fun and adventure around coming to the library to find new books.
The program is not just for young people. Santa Cruz Public Libraries offers Summer Reading logs and programs for ages 0-11, 12-18, and 19 & up. Adults can get in on the action as well. Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is Color Our World, and you can find out more about how to register and the wealth of programs we offer on our Summer Reading page. The program ends on Thursday, July 31.
And yes, you can take that library book to the beach, on a hike, or on a family vacation, we just ask that you return it on time without any damage from your adventure. We are grateful to the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries and our prize sponsors Penny Ice Creamery, Atlantis Fantasyworld, and Boardwalk Bowl for their support of this year’s Summer Reading Program.
Christopher Platt
Director of Libraries
Mensaje del Director de Bibliotecas
News Archives >>
