June 15, 2007

San José Public Libraries Summer Reading Celebration signups June 16

On June 16, the first wave of an estimated 25,000-plus youth and their families are expected to queue up at San José Public Libraries to sign up for the annual Summer Reading Celebration. The eight-week program encourages recreational reading as a family activity, offering fun prizes as rewards for reaching each of five reading milestones for a cumulative total of 30 hours.

Each year program materials carry a new theme to spark the imagination and engage readers' sense of fun. This year, Get a Clue @ your library serves children (birth through grade 5) and YNK @ your library serves teens (grades 6-12).

For the first time this year, San José Public Library will offer an additional program component specifically for adults, Summer Sleuthing @ your library. Throughout the month of July, adults are invited to read books and win prizes through weekly drawings at all San José library locations. Prizes will include bookstore gift certificates, restaurant and coffee shop certificates, and other great prizes from local businesses. Several San José libraries will also host mystery author programs in July.

While the focus of Summer Reading Celebration is on promoting reading as an enjoyable, stress-free activity, there is a more serious underlying benefit for young people. Research has shown that student learning declines or remains stagnant during the summer months; phenomena often referred to as the "summer setback." However, research also shows that children who read or are read to at least three times a week have a higher rate of academic success than children from homes where they have less exposure to books. The Library's summer reading program has proven to be a great motivator to get families coming to the library on a regular basis and reading. Eighty percent of participants surveyed last year report that they both read more and enjoyed reading more as a result of the program.

San José residents may sign up any time starting June 16 and complete as many milestones as they wish. Family members may sign up for the youth programs individually or as a group, tracking progress with one reading log. Credit may also be earned for reading aloud to younger family members. Those who complete all five stages will take home a free book. Participants may complete as many logs as they wish, but only one for prizes.

For more information, call your neighborhood library or King Library Youth Services at (408) 808-2183.