Unfortunately, some youth face anything but idyllic summer months. When the school doors close, many children struggle to access educational opportunities, as well as basic needs such as healthy meals and adequate adult supervision.

Parents are their kids' most important teachers. And librarians are ready to help parents support their children's learning adventures throughout the summer.

Our nation’s future economic prosperity is closely linked with student success in the STEM fields .

underutilization of human potential as reflected in the achievement gap is extremely costly. Existing gaps impose the economic equivalent of a permanent national recession—one substantially larger than the deep recession the country is currently experiencing.

McKinsey's research finds that the education achievement gap in the United States imposes the economic equivalent of a permanent recession on the nation.

Students caught in the learning gap are more likely to drop out of school, costing the nation $260 billion per year in increased crime, welfare and healthcare costs, and decreased lifetime earnings

Libraries are natural partners for student achievement, from school-year homework help, to summer science games.

"This summer, kids will have fun while they build skills in critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration."

There has been a revolution in our understanding of children’s minds, brains, and learning capacities. We now recognize that young children know, feel, and learn more than we ever imagined.

Social interaction and imitative learning play an important role in early brain and behavioral development.