Proof!!!

SUMMER READING PROGRAMS HELP KIDS MAINTAIN THEIR READING SKILLS OVER THE SUMMER!!!

Oh, sorry about that.  I just had to shout.  What we in the children's library work world have known since we started our careers has now been studied and reported out by the widely anticipated Dominican Study: Public Library Summer Reading Programs Close the Reading Gap. This three year study, administered by Dominican University GSLIS, was an evidence-based investigation into the impact of summer reading programs on student acheivment funded by IMLS; conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning and partnered with the Colorado State Library and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

And the results are in. You can read the whole study at the link above. But let me skip to some of the execuive summary results:

• Students who participated in the public library summer reading program scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year than those students who did not participate and they gained in other ways as well.
• While students who reported that they did not participate in the public library summer reading program also improved reading scores, they did not reach the reading level of the students who did participate.
• Students who participated in the public library summer reading program had better reading skills at the end of third grade and scored higher on the standards test than the students who did not participate. 
• Students who participated in the public library summer reading program included more females, more Caucasians, and were at a higher socioeconomic level than the group of students who did not participate.
• Families of students who participated in the public library summer reading program had more books in their homes than those families of students not participating.
• Students enrolled in the public library summer reading program reported that they like to read books, like to go to the library, and picked their own books to read.
• Parents of children enrolled in the public library summer reading program reported that their children spent more time reading over the summer and read more books, were well prepared for school in the fall, and read more confidently.
• Parents of children enrolled in the public library summer reading program reported that they would enroll their children in a summer reading program at the library again, made more visits to the public library with their children, and read more books to/with their children over the summer.
• Teachers observed that students who participated in the public library summer reading program returned to school ready to learn, improved their reading achievement and skills, increased their enjoyment of reading, were more motivated to read, were more confident in participating in classroom reading activities, read beyond what was required in their free time, and perceived reading to be important.
• School librarians observed that students who participated in the public library summer reading program returned to school ready to learn, improved their reading achievement and skills, increased their enjoyment of reading, were more motivated to read, were more confident in their reading abilities, read beyond what was required in their free time, and perceived reading to be important.
• Public librarians observed/perceived that students who participated in the public library summer reading program returned to school ready to learn, improved their reading achievement and skills, increased their enjoyment of reading, were more motivated to read, were more confident in their reading abilities, read beyond what was required in their free time, perceived reading to be important, were enthusiastic about reading and self-selecting books, and increased their fluency and comprehension.

The study's final recommendations:

1. Recognizing that public libraries play a significant role in helping to close the achievement gap in school performance.

2. Promoting the powerful role that public libraries play in the education community in helping children maintain and gain reading skills.

3. Engaging families in public library programs to promote early childhood literacy.

4. Investing more money in summer reading programs—especially in public libraries that serve children and families in economically depressed areas.

5. Marketing to parents of school-age children so they understand the importance of their children participating in summer reading programs and other out-of-school library activities.

Kudos to my peeps Susan Roman and Carole Fiore and to Deb Carran who authored this great report. It is just what we out on the front-lines need!

Image: 'Start Your Summer Reading Early'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/47823583@N03/4664379890