Community Involvement in Summer Reading Programs: A Fresh Perspective

Summer reading programs (SRP) have long been a staple in almost every public library. One of the primary reasons for SRPs is that they contribute to overcoming or mitigating summer reading loss or setback. Yet, the original research that led to the pronouncement of summer reading setback has been called into question. This suggests that the resources public libraries devote to SRPs might be better spent on working with other community organizations on assisting every child to become ready for kindergarten. Public libraries are encouraged to engage with other community organizations in order that summer reading programs will have a broader and greater impact.