Meeting of the Board of Regents | May 2009

SUMMARY

Issue for Discussion

Implementation of the 2009 New York Statewide Summer Reading Program.

Reason(s) for Consideration

For information.

Proposed Handling

The Board will hear an update on the New York State Library’s coordination of the annual statewide program, its focus on reading for fun and its support for high-quality programming in local public libraries. The update will focus on this year’s collaborative efforts across the State Education Department, with other state government agencies, the state legislature and the Quadricentennial Commission to encourage summer reading for children and families at New York’s 1,100 public libraries and branches across the state.

Procedural History

The Statewide Summer Reading Program is a program of the New York State Library in the Office of Cultural Education that works in partnership with the public library systems and public and association libraries throughout New York. The program is supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. There has been a coordinated Statewide Summer Reading Program since 1992. Since 2007 the State Library has managed the program as a member of the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a national consortium of 47 states.

Background Information

The annual Statewide Summer Reading Program brings children and families into local public libraries for reading and literacy activities during the summer months. Research studies show that library summer reading programs raise student achievement levels and help prevent learning losses during the summer vacation. Library programs are offered free of charge to children, teens, and families statewide. The goal of reaching 1.5 million children by 2010 was reached two years early, when, in 2008 over 1.5 million of New York's children and teens participated in the program.

The State Library provides leadership for and partners with the 23 public library systems on program implementation, offering high-quality educational materials, support through the www.summerreadingnys.org website, small mini-grants to library systems for local programming and more.  Local libraries, in partnership with schools and community organizations, tailor the statewide program to local needs.

Recommendation

              Staff recommend that the Regents support the efforts of the State Library and the public library systems to promote participation in the program and to enhance programming, helping to improve student performance and literacy in New York State.

Timetable for Implementation

              The program will be implemented in local libraries throughout the state from June through August 2009. Final figures on participation in the program will be available by October 2009.