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 Adventure Begins at Your Library manual.

A webinar called 'Finding Funding for Summer Reading' will be held on Monday, November 24, 1:00pm.  Registration links were sent out by email.  Please reach out to Sarah (sreid@4cls.org) or Circe (cmckenney@4cls.org) if you need the link.

The 4CLS Summer Reading Program Palooza will be taking place on February 20 at the Sidney Memorial Public Library!  Please save the date and look for more information to come via email and intra-system mail.  (Inclement weather date is February 27.)

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 reporting form for 2024 is linked below, to give you a sense of what sorts of information will be collected.  Once the 2025 form is received from the State Library, it will be shared.  It will be sent out again to member libraries in August, along with a link to submit your information digitally, if that's your preference.  The due date will be in mid-September.