Summer Reading Program: Home

Goals of Summer Reading at New York Libraries (from the Toolkit that can be found on the NYS State Library's 'Promote Your Summer Reading Program' page)

• Advance literacy and academic performance by engaging children and teens in reading and reading-related activities during the summer months.
• Foster a love of reading through public library programs and services.
• Increase successful reading experiences through librarian-supported, self-selected, voluntary reading.
• Involve parents and all family members in the library summer reading experience.
• Improve children’s access to library materials and activities, which will encourage them to become lifelong library users.
• Increase the number of children and teens participating in public library summer reading programs.

Additional Summer Reading Program goals can be found on Page 10 of the All Together Now manual.

Summer Reading was the main topic of conversation at the Youth Services meeting on Friday, March 10, 10:00am.  

The presentation slides and the meeting notes can be found using the links below.

This document/outline can help member library staff think through their goals, ideas, and activities related to implementing a Summer Reading Program:

Below is a sample press release to give you a jumping-off point for what sorts of information to send to your local news outlets.

The New York State Library asks public libraries to report information about their Summer Reading Programs, with registration, reading, and attendance numbers.  The official form has not yet been issued, but this 2022 form shows the types of questions that have been asked in the past, as well as questions that appear on the Annual Report.  The official reporting form will be sent to member libraries as soon as it is finalized, and it will be available to fill out online, in a Word document, or in print.