This summer, libraries around the nation, including the Hartland Public Library,  will be working with the Collaborative Summer Library Program to encourage kids and teens to read during the summer under the theme ‘Build a Better World,’ according to Hartland public librarian Claudia Noonan.

“Summer reading programs began in the 1890s,” says the American Library Association, “as a way to encourage school children … to read during the summer vacation, use the library, and develop the habit of reading.”

This summer, the Collaborative Summer Library Program, has chosen the theme ‘Build a Better World.’ According to their website, the program is “a consortium of states working together to provide a unified summer reading theme along with professional art and evidence-based materials so that member libraries can provide high-quality summer reading programs at the lowest possible cost.”

According to the program’s website, there are two program lists for different age groups. Children in fifth grade or younger are provided program ideas, reading lists, music lists, and craft ideas in order to encourage summer reading. In accordance with the theme, here are some examples from this year’s book lists: The Lego Architect by Tom Alphin,  The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, What is Texture? by Stephanie Fitzgerald, and Clothes in Many Colors by Heather Adamson. Children in sixth grade or older are provided with reading lists consisting of chapter books that relate to this summer’s theme. Some of the books on this year’s list include Book Crush: For Kids and Teens—Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Interest by Nancy Pearl and Adaptation by Malinda Lo.

According to the American Library Association, 95 percent of libraries have summer reading programs instilled to prevent the summer slide.  The summer slide, according to Education Voucher, is defined as summer learning loss in academic skills.

“Kids who read during the summer prevent the summer academic slide,” says Noonan. “They build skills to do better in all subjects, including science and math. Under the program kids also get to experience different activities and learn something new.”

According to the Hartland Public Library website, the library opened the program on June 9th. Kids and teen participants picked up their reading logs, BINGO card booklets, and program schedules on that day. “For every four hours you read during the summer,” says the Hartland Public Library’s website, “you receive one entry for a prize drawing on August 2nd.”

Books are available to borrow at the Hartland Public Library, located at 110 E Park Ave Hartland, WI, from 9 am to 8 pm Mondays through Thursdays, 9 am to 5 pm on Fridays, and 9 am to noon on Saturdays.

The Hartland Public Library asks all participants to turn in all reading logs before August 2nd in order to be entered into the drawing.