In its continued effort to promote education outside of the classroom, the state has announced the beginning of this year’s summer reading initiative in libraries throughout New York.
Each year, the New York State Library system selects different themes to help promote summer reading amongst children and teens when school is in recess. At a Capital District kick-off event held on Thursday, May 10, at the Bethlehem Public Library in Delmar, state officials announced the themes for this year’s “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” program.
The state library system has asked children to “Dream Big — Read” this summer, while teens have been invited to “Own the Night.” The hope is to have 1.8 million children and teens visiting the state’s libraries during the summer season by 2017.
“I urge young people and their parents to commit themselves to summer reading,” said the state Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education Jeffery Cannell. “It can have a very transformational power and it can become a lifetime obsession. Believe me, I know.”
The announcement was the first of five to be held around the state. The New York State Library funds the annual promotional materials while local libraries are asked to create their own programming and reading lists to accompany the theme.
Both state Sen. Neil Breslin and Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin attended the event to show their support of the summer reading program.
“I’m the son of a teacher,” said Breslin. “Back when I was growing up we didn’t have summer reading programs but I certainly had a mother who was very vigilant to make sure we participated in our own reading program. But that doesn’t cure society. That doesn’t cure the sons and daughters of a single working mom, and all types of different situations.”
He said this program can help instill a love of reading in children from all backgrounds.
Bethlehem Public Library Director Geoff Kirkpatrick said it has been a challenge in recent years to get teens to come to the library. According to circulation rates from last year, teen books had the second lowest loan rate, just barely beating out magazine loans.
Bethlehem Supervisor John Clarkson joked that although today’s youths are more likely to be reading their favorite novel on a Kindle or iPad rather than an actual book, “the fundamental activity is the understanding of language, the crafting of thoughts, and the understanding of thoughts from others.”
Bethlehem Central School District Superintendent Tom Douglas agreed, adding how most standardized tests now rely on strong reading comprehension skills.
“The old phrase ‘reading is fundamental’ still holds true,” he said.
To attract teens back to the library, Kirkpatrick said libraries are now asking for teen volunteers to help tutor or read to younger children during the summer months. The Bethlehem library is also providing teens with advance copies of book that haven’t been published yet to take home, if they are willing to write a review to be placed on the library’s website. So far, 160 local teens have signed up to participate in the summer program at the Bethlehem library.
Timothy Burke, Upper Hudson Library System executive director, said the majority of this year’s summer programs for children will focus on lessons about outer space. He also said the “Own the Night” theme for teens will focus on empowerment.
“I would like to thank (Breslin and McLaughlin) for thinking libraries are a smart investment of taxpayer money,” he said.
The event closed with a brief memorial for children’s author Maurice Sendak, who died on Tuesday, May 8. The 83-year-old was famous for his artwork and stories in books like “Where the Wild Things Are” and “In the Night Kitchen.”
“I know his character and books touched my life,” said Kirkpatrick, adding that Sendak will live on through his work.
A short student video was also shown that promoted the summer program’s “Own the Night” theme.
To learn more, visit www.summerreadingnys.org or visit your local library.
