by Christina Stoll, MLS

This article focuses on the Summer Reading programs of several MLS Public Libraries, and the trends, surprises and lessons they learned.  Check out the success of these libraries and take away a few ideas for next year’s summer reading program at your library.

The Forest Park Public Library (http://www.forestparkpubliclibrary.org) supported the Be Creative @ Your Library (BCYL) theme this summer, offering programs for babies - adults.

Susan Kunkle, Youth Services Managers reported that registration was almost double. Their most popular event was a tie between their flea circus performer and the Harry Potter Theater Night where movie tickets were raffled off.

When asked what made these two programs so successful, Susan said “I think people were really excited about the movie coming out and wanted to commemorate it. The flea circus we promoted really well which helped cement it in people’s minds.”

Flea Circus Performer at the Forest Park Public Library

The library also reintroduced an evening pajama story-time called “Campfire Story-time on a different night which drew numbers as large as their story-times during the day.  Changes for next year include an aim for more consistency across programs by measuring everyone in minutes.  Also a de-emphasizing of awards concentrating on bigger rewards for all the finishers, and having multiple grand prize raffles where the kids can choose which raffle they want their tickets to go towards.

Dayna Tucker, library staff member in the Children's and Youth Service Department at the River Grove Public Library (http://www.rivergrovelibrary.org) reported that her library followed the Read on the Wild Side (ROWS) theme for children 10 and under.  Their kick-off party, which included a traveling zoo with live animals, along with two other events where kids learned about platypuses and painted ceramic elephants were all successful.  
 
“The live animals and the interaction of getting to paint a big 'piggy bank' like ceramic elephant made these events so great,” reported Dayna.

Girl painting a ceramic elephant at a event as part of the River Grove Public Library's Summer Reading Program.
 
One of the nicest surprises was having a few parents who not only brought in their kids for programming but also the neighbor’s kids.  “It was nice that they felt the importance about reading during the summer”, said Dayna.
 
Thoughts for next year’s summer reading include extending the programs to 2 hours, and offering more parent involved events. Dayna adds some final tips “I encourage the 'many ways to read' [such as] independently with a friend, in small groups, taking turns, out loud, page-by-page, even & odds, chapters & even some funny ways like upside down, end to the beginning and even backwards.  Reading can be so much fun!”

The Flossmoor Public Library (http://flossmoorlibrary.org) supported the BCYL theme for Birth - 5th grade and the Express Yourself (EY) theme for 6th-12th grade, as well as an Adult program.  Margie Wegrzyn, Head of Youth Services said participation was slightly up from last year, with their Scoop-a-rama being the most popular event. 

Margie explained, “We serve ice cream outside and have a popular local musician perform. This program really brings the community together and has become an event the children and parents look forward to attending.

Each event averages between 30-40 attendees, and the program themes included Israeli Dancing, Instrument Petting Zoo, a Party Dancing and Sidewalk Chalk.  Plans for next year will repeat the allowing of participants to set their own reading goals and provide a group incentive to read beyond their goals.  This year for every 10 books read a hand was added to our Rainbow of Readers wall in the Youth Department.  “It was a beautiful visual of how many books were read over the summer,” added Margie.

The Matteson Public Library (http://www.mattesonpubliclibrary.org) offered summer reading programs for children – adults and a family program that supported the ROWS theme.

Registration was up by 100 kids reported Head of Youth Services Phyllis Davis, which was a 69% increase in participation and a 71% increase in completion over last year. 

A change to their program was they allowed kids to turn in a weekly log for a prize. The teen program had a weekly raffle for a gift card, while adults followed a reading green books theme.   

The libraries kick-off event was a drop-in/self-serve scavenger hunt where children had to follow clues around the library for a free goodie bag.  The activity brought in more than three times the number of people than previous years - its popularity due to its convenience for parents and appeal to a wide range of ages.  Two -17 year olds complete the hunt to get a bag; the entire cost approximately $ .75 per kid/bad. 

The Chicago Heights Public Library (http://www.chicagoheightslibrary.org) also followed the ROWS theme for their children and family summer reading programs.

Norma Rubio, Head of the Children's Department noted that both kid registration and completion was higher compared to last year.  She also commented on their most popular event being “our water day which involved a balloon fight and a small pool for kids. The kids enjoyed getting the library staff wet.  I think they really enjoyed seeing us out of our normal setting.”

New programs were offered this year which the library hopes to repeat next year summer. Norma also hopes that the kids who participate in her library’s summer reading program continue their excitement for reading and winning prizes throughout the school year.  The library also offers a reading buddy program where kids come into the library and sit with a staff member and they read to them. 

At the Blue Island Public Library (http://www.blueislandlibrary.org), the staff offered several events and activities as part of its summer reading programs, all supporting the ROWS theme:

• Preschool Story-time
• Wii are Family Game Night
• Reading in the Park Stories
• Radio Disney 1300
• Friday Bash Movies
• Family Reading/Leyendo en Familia   

Deb Beasley, Department Manager / Youth Services commented on their biggest event being their nine Radio Disney programs they held in partnership with the local community. “We brought Disney to kids who might never have had the chance to experience Disney—priceless!”

Kids participating in a Hula Hoop activity as part of the Blue Island Public Library's Summer Reading program.

Loretta Bohn, Head of Children's Services at the Berkeley Public Library (http://www.berkeleylib.org) shared insight to their summer reading program which ran for six weeks following the BCYL theme for children birth - grade 8. 

Their registration increased by 62% and two of their most successful events included a Costumer Character Story-time with "Curious George" and a "Read-To-The-Dogs" event, where kids read to dogs and each received a bilingual paperback copy of "The Great Dog Wash."  Loretta commented that “all the children walked away with big smiles on their faces.”

Children who completed the summer reading program and their parents were invited to a Pool Party at Adventure Bay Water Park in Hillside. 

Another BCYL supported program was at the River Forest Public Library (http://www.riverforestlibrary.org).  Sue Quinn. Head of Children's Services reported that their numbers doubled from last year, and they kicked off their program on the library lawn the afternoon that the public schools let out with popcorn, popciles and an inflatable bouncer.

“We were able to capture the beginning of summer enthusiasm and put the library on everyone's summer agenda before the kids got involved with all of their other activities,” said Sue.

New to their program was a Reading Challenge which brought in droves of kids completing the challenge several times over. The library also held a program the day after the end of Summer Reading to let the kids decorate their t-shirts with fabric markers and/or a sharpie tie-die which ended up being very popular.  More than 1/3 of our finishers showed up, and the hope is that there will be several kids walking around town in their t-shirts all year advertising the library.

Bedford Park Public Library (http://www.bplib.net) followed the ROWS theme for children ages 3-13 in their community.  While fewer readers were reported this year by Children’s Librarian Barb Weber, their most popular event was Robin’s dog Stars, since animals are always a big hit with kids.

A Children and Family Program was supported following the BCYL theme at the Broadview Public Library District (http://www.broadviewlibrary.org). Participation was about the same reported Kenya Williams, Children’s Librarian / Youth Services. Their most popular program was Dave Herzog’s Marionettes, who is loved not only by the kids but their parents as well.  The biggest surprise was the amount of minutes the kids read.  Kenya plans on repeating everything next year but hopes to offer more prizes for the kids at the end of the program.

Sheri Daun-Bedford, Head of the Children' Department at that Woodridge Public Library (http://www.woodridgelibrary.org) reported on her library’s summer reading programs as follows:

• Children's - BCYL
• Young Adult - Connect2Reading @ Your Library
• Adult - Master the Art of Reading

Participation in the Children's Department was up and all children’s programming was well attended, with programs for the 4th -6th graders seeing the largest increase. “We focused more on craft programs with a craft each week, examples being creating pet rocks and a habitat, decorating a canvas tote bag, tie-dying a pillow case with Sharpies and rubbing alcohol, decorating a journal,”  commented Sheri. 

Jennifer Lowe in the Youth Services Department at the Tinley Park Public Library (www.tplibrary.org) reported that her library supported the ROWS theme with a Safari for Youth Services, a Road Trip for Teens, while the Adults did an Olympics theme.  A family program and a program on their bookmobile were also supported. Participation was up 75% overall and more than 100% in teen participation. Small children and families enjoyed musician Jim Gill while older children attended a magic show and teens and families attended the Fairy Tale Theatre.

Trends spotted by library staff included:

• Completion rates and the number of books read higher.
• More fathers coming in with their children.
• An increase in the number of audio books being checked out.  
• Larger numbers of first time library patrons, both adults and children
• Teen participation was very high.
• Families coming into the library together.

Questions about this article, contact Christina Stoll as stollc@mls.lib.il.us.

Published August 9, 2009 in vol. 3, iss. 17 [View]