A whole generation of youngsters is falling behind in reading. Could your child or grandchild be one of these kids? It may surprise you to hear that more than two-thirds of the nation’s fourth-graders are reading below proficiency level*, which
leads to poor grades in other subjects. Your public library plays a vital role in teaching children to read and to enjoy reading.
When you make a gift to our Summerfest reading program, the benefits to children are tangible and help them to be ready to return to school in the fall. There are three primary ways to stop summer academic loss for children:public library summer reading programs, having books available in the home, and summer school. When school is in session, children of every economic background have the opportunity to learn equally. But when the “faucet is turned off” during the summer, children may fall behind by a month or more. Children from lower income families may lose three-plus months.**
In 2010, Pauline Central Elementary tracked students who enrolled in the library’s Summerfest reading program and the resulting data proved what we’ve long suspected: children who read during the summer maintain or improve their reading skills and scores.
Indian Hills Elementary students earned 1st place in our 2010 summer reading competition, reading over 2,100 hours in two months.
Your contributions have also helped acquire the latest books, films and music at a time of deep cuts in our collections budget. Donors have helped us create Neighborhoods, a convenient and easy-to-use arrangement of books by topic. Our goal in developing Neighborhoods is to convert our rows of books to engaging hubs of inquiry and activity that become a browser’s paradise.*From the National Assessment of Educational Progress **from MetaMetrics, Inc., white paper: Stop Summer Academic Loss*
Neighborhood expansion continues because of your contributions. In early 2011, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. signed on to sponsor the Pets Neighborhood. The gift enables purchases and programs that will benefit pet owners. Other Neighborhoods needing support include Crafts, Home, Cooking and Lawn and Garden. In the Lawn and Garden neighborhood, 75 percent of the books are checked out more than 20 times a month.
As one of our close friends, you have an inside track on what’s new at your library. With advances in technology, the library is available 24/7 on the web and on our mobile phone application. Our Digital Branch Library at www.tscpl.org delivers
online services and collections anytime, wherever you are. Please join us and be part of a 21st Century library. Here’s a quick look at what our Digital Branch can do for you:
We are creating an engaging Kids’ Library that inspires kids to read, encourages their imagination and gets them exicted about learning. Library staff have planned and designed the project to incorporate the educational and to contain costs. Your gifts will help complete this story.
- Hush: A Podcast from Your Library. It’s an online talk show hosted by librarians that keeps you up-to-date with what’s happening at the library.
- The red “Donate Now” button takes you to a secure page where you make your donations online. Simply create an account, make your gift and review your giving history anytime you want.
- You can join the initiative to install remote book dispensers (similar to Redbox for movies) that will be locatedin the community.
When you give to your library, you ensure that it continues to transform the quality of life for the citizens of our community. Your gift helps the library carry out its commitment to grow the next generation of readers. With your help, we can transform the Youth Services area to a dynamic Kids’ Library where learning opportunities surround children and families. Colorful murals and 3-D attractions, like the playhouse, encourage frequent visits and support children’s progress as they grow from learning to read to reading to learn.