About the library > News Releases > 2006 > Summer Reading program begins June 1

Popular Summer Reading program begins June 1

May 16, 2006

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PORTLAND, OR – Beginning June 1, kids and teens throughout Multnomah County can visit any Multnomah County Library location to sign up and participate in the annual Summer Reading program which encourages youngsters to read during the summer and reduce summer reading loss.

Reading Rockets, a national educational service funded by the U.S. Department of Education, reports that "children from low-income families have more restrictive access to books, both in school and at home, than do their more advantaged peers." Summer reading loss is one factor contributing to the achievement gap between more and less economically advantaged students.

"Multnomah County Library, with the support of The Library Foundation, will address this issue during the 2006 Summer Reading program," says Reading Promotions Coordinator Katie O'Dell. "Our outreach staff will bring the Summer Reading program to federal lunch sites, housing authority locations and low-income childcare centers. We're going to reach far out beyond the library walls, into the communities where participating in a summer reading program is not a tradition, not even a known possibility."

This year's game encourages players to read and earn incentives for each block of time they read. Youth of all ages, including very young children who are being read to by a parent or caregiver, as well as older kids who are reading on their own, can participate in Summer Reading. All kids who complete the required reading receive their choice of a Summer Reading T-shirt or a coupon for a free book.

All participants who complete their required reading and turn in their gameboard by August 31, 2006 will also be entered in the grand prize drawing for a family vacation for four to Disneyland.

Teens can participate in a separate program this year that was designed just for them. For each block of reading or reading-related activities that they complete, they may enter a monthly drawing at their neighborhood library for a chance to win prizes.

Participants also have the option of earning Book Bucks instead of receiving prizes. Book Bucks will go toward buying books for childcare centers and children in homeless shelters.

Throughout the summer, Multnomah County libraries will host a number of programs for kids and families. More than 150 programs will be offered at 17 library locations and will include craft workshops, live concerts, puppet shows and opportunities to meet animals. A listing of all of the free summer programs at the library is available at www.multcolib.org/events/.

Last year, more than 52,000 kids and teens took part in Multnomah County Library's Summer Reading program. This year, 60,000 kids and teens are expected to participate in the program. Libraries throughout the country regularly conduct summer reading programs to encourage reading for pleasure, especially when school is not in session. "Research has shown that reading is the single summer activity most strongly and consistently related to summer learning," says O'Dell. "Children who read books over the summer gain more in reading achievement than children who do not and the number of books read during the summer is consistently related to academic gains," she adds.

Multnomah County Library's Summer Reading program begins June 1 and ends August 31. For more information on Summer Reading, visit the library's website at www.multcolib.org/summer/.

The Summer Reading program is made possible by generous donations to The Library Foundation from Comcast, Key Bank, Maybelle Clark MacDonald Fund and Textronix. Thanks to these generous community partners: Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Beavers, Pizza Schmizza, Chipotle, Starbucks, TriMet and Oaks Park.

Summer Reading is also supported by Amazin Glazin, Art Media, Azumano Travel, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt, Portland Children's Museum, Dave Fricks Karate, Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle's Restaurant, Haggis McBaggis, Hollywood Bowl, Laserport, Lloyd Center, Lloyd Center Ice Chalet, McMenamins Pubs & Breweries, North Clackamas Aquatic Park, Northwest Fighting Arts, Old Country Buffet Portland Mall 205, Oregon Children's Theatre, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Oregon Zoo Foundation, Parisi's Gelato, Portland Parks & Recreation, Regal Cinemas, Spoiled Rotten, The Bike Gallery, The Oregonian, Wunderland.

Special thanks to Meyer Memorial Trust and The James and Marion Miller Foundation for funding the expansion of Summer Reading 2006.