Summer is no time to put books aside

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Summer reading programs and your local library provide more than just entertainment for kids — they're important allies for parents who are fighting the "summer reading gap." The summer reading gap occurs when many students take a summer vacation from reading, as well as from school, according to a press release from the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association.

Researchers Richard Allington and Ann McGill-Franzen (both are education professors at the University of Florida) found that reading proficiency declines over the summer months, particularly among struggling readers. Allington's studies show that these losses are cumulative, with some students falling almost two years behind in reading achievement by the time they are in middle school, the release stated.

The public libraries in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties have planned programs to keep children reading and learning all summer.

Throughout the year, the public libraries in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's provide free, fun events — but none are more popular than the annual summer reading programs. For parents and caregivers, summer reading programs at the library provide wonderfully entertaining and stimulating opportunities to get children into a literacy program — which can help stem the summer reading lag, the release stated.

"We're here to help," said Janet Salazar, children's coordinator for Charles County Public Library. "We can engage kids through fun programming and help them learn to love reading."

In the 2010 Summer Reading Program, children from babies to young adults can explore the world of water and water fun through stories, songs, games and other activities about water. 

Families can make an outing to the second annual Southern Maryland Library Night in conjunction with a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball game starting at 7:05 p.m. July 30 at Regency Furniture Stadium at 11765 St. Linus Drive in Waldorf. All summer reading participants receive a free lawn seat ticket to the baseball game, which will begin with a parade of summer readers and end with fireworks.

For more information about the summer reading programs, or about the Southern Maryland Library Night with the Blue Crabs, visit your library or go to the Charles County Public Library website, www.ccplonline.org.