Library’s Summer Reading program combats “summer slide” to support success in school
Charlotte, NC – Sept. 16, 2014 – Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s 2014 Summer Reading Program recorded more than 26 million minutes of reading, a 23.8% increase from last year. And a total of 29,105 individuals participated in the Summer Reading Program, a 19.9% increase from last year.
What is the significance of more than 26 million minutes of reading during the summer? For many students and families, it means going back to school more prepared to learn. School-aged children participating in Summer Reading read for an average of 20 minutes per day, which research has shown helps them return to school ready to learn at grade level, avoiding the “summer slide.”
The community’s enthusiastic participation in Summer Reading from June 11 to August 9 continues to demonstrate that literacy is important, even in the summer.
David Singleton, Director of Libraries for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, is convinced that the Summer Reading Program is one of the most important annual programs provided by the Library. “Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is committed to educational success for every young person. While we create a community of readers throughout the year, Summer Reading is a time to focus on children and teens reading and engaging in library programs so that they return to school ready to learn and succeed in school. Preschool children participate in early literacy activities that help them with vocabulary, letter recognition, and other pre-literacy skills that better prepare them to be ready to read and learn. And Adults participating in the program are modeling reading behaviors—in print, online, and in electronic format—for young people.”
The Library’s partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) has been instrumental in helping direct program resources into the hands of the students who can most benefit. About 65% of the 19,051 children and teen participants were CMS students.
Said CMS Deputy Superintendent Ann Clark, “CMS is thrilled with the increase in the participation in the Summer Reading Program as well as the strong commitment from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to align their programming with CMS priorities to combat summer reading loss for our students.”
Summer Reading organizers wish to thank the 2014 Summer Reading sponsors, Carowinds, Wendy's and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation for their continued support of the Library.
Companies interested in becoming a sponsor for the 2015 Summer Reading program can contact the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation at 704-416-0618.
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