As the end of the school year nears, some parents are wondering what will keep their children busy this summer. One idea is to sign up for the Summer Reading Program.
Parents like Holly Elstun are avid supporters of this program and think it’s very important. She thinks the Summer Reading Program benefits children and parents and says, it “keeps them busy during the summer and something to do with a goal to meet.”
The Summer Reading Program is a nation-wide program that has been around since as far back as the 1890s. This was first started by organizations like the Cleveland Library League and Caroline Hewitts from Hartford, Connecticut. The first programs were targeted towards school children in urban areas. They attempted to create reading a life-long habit. By 1929, themes for each program were developed.
According to William Paterson University, “reading is essential for acquiring knowledge and creating pathways to greater learning, equitability, creativity, performance, and well-being, and empathy.” People use reading skills everyday, William Paterson University says, they can “refer to their background knowledge to make connections from what they know to what they want to learn.”
A University of Chicago study showed less than 20 percent who were reading below their grade level attended college opposed to the 60 percent who read at or above their grade level.
Ali Bousquet currently runs the Summer Reading Program for Lincoln. She has been working at the library since 2014 but working in Lincoln since 2020. Bousquet has worked in four public libraries in Illinois and Nebraska.
“The Summer Reading Challenge is a fun way to keep your brain active this summer and to encourage folks to use a resource that is theirs for the taking: the public library! You sign up after the school year ends, get prizes, read 10 hours, and then get more prizes,” said Bousquet
Bousquet is now the system wide Youth and Outreach Coordinator for Lincoln City Libraries. While running the Summer Reading Program, she books big events, contracts with the library’s sponsors, gets coupons, orders the giveaway items, and purchases extra books. She also hires and trains all of the summer outreach staff who visit things like camps and childcare centers.
Bousquet loves libraries because “they are a place for every person in our community. It’s one of the few places you’re allowed to be without having to purchase anything. You get to meet and interact with folks from every and all walks of life. We serve everyone and everyone is welcome.” Bousquet continued, “It’s important to find a way to keep your brain active over the summer and keep some structure to your days! Reading builds empathy and allows us to view problems and situations from multiple perspectives. In my opinion, the ability to have empathy and put yourself in someone else’s shoes are foundational skills you need in order to be a fully-formed person!”
Holly Elstun is a mom of three kids, two of which have done the Summer Reading Program their whole life. Elstun recommends the Summer Reading Program to all families. “It gives the kids something to do and keeps busy and gets them to reach a goal and earn prizes”.
Elstun is avid about the importance of reading in the summer. “It keeps people actively reading during the summer and could be learning books or just keeping their minds working.” Elstun said and continued, “it keeps the kids’ minds actively thinking, keeps them busy, and their imaginations alive during the summer time.”
Reading during the summer is very important and the Summer Reading Program is a great way to go about it! Bousquet stressed that, “If you haven’t been to the library, come see us! You can check out books, magazines, video games, download books and audiobooks on your phone…or just hang out in our space! We’d love to see you!”
