Summer Reading: Let’s Work Together

When my role was a Children’s Librarian, I was working at my first branch in the inner city in New York. Children and their caregivers would often come to the library with long reading lists hoping that we had anything on their list at the branch. We often would ask the students coming in during the summer if we could make a copy of their summer reading list. We did so due to each school and potentially each grade/class had a different summer reading list. What a burden to caregivers to try to locate several titles? During my second summer, I had a thought bubble moment. I thought, “Why isn’t the public library working with our public schools in creating a summer reading list?” Public libraries and schools are natural partners in creating and promoting summer reading and reading lists. Libraries offer a wealth of resources for children and their caregivers, including books, summer programs, summer themed events and incentives.



Here are a few points regarding how and why the two organizations should collaborate together:




In the planning collaboration between the public libraries and schools of summer reading and reading lists, the public library can anticipate the preparation and the implementation of multiple copies of the summer reading titles to help the student meet their summer reading requirement. This would give great support to children who are underserved, they would have better access to borrowing those books instead of purchasing.



School Media Specialists and Reading Teachers in conjunction with Librarians could work together on creating creative, diverse and robust summer reading lists for their community.



All teachers in schools can help to promote summer reading to their students by sending home flyers, newsletters, and other materials.



Libraries can provide other resources to schools, in conjunction with the schools system to provide book lists, reading logs, programs, events, story times, author visits and prizes. Resources provided to the community from libraries are generally free.




There are many benefits to summer reading. It helps children maintain their reading skills over the summer months, and it can also help them to learn new things. Summer reading can also be a fun and enjoyable activity for children and families. By working together, public libraries and schools can make summer reading a fun and rewarding experience for all children.



About The Author



Mariel Matthews is a Patron Services Librarian with Long Beach Public Library. Formerly, I was a Children’s Librarian with The New York Public Library. Currently, I am a co-chair of Library Services to Underserved Children and Their Caregivers.
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