When students leave school for summer, that?s often an excuse for many to stop reading.
“But studies have shown that if kids don?t read over the summer, they can lose up to a grade level,” said Elizabeth Rafferty, youth services specialist for the Baltimore County Public Library system.
“Although they?re on vacation, we don?t want them to lose the ability they?ve worked so hard to gain during the school year.”
All 17 of the county?s library branches are helping to ensure students continue to read while on summer break by participating in a 25-year tradition that also provides opportunities for adults to catch up on their reading as well.
This year?s eight-week countywide reading club started this week.
According to Rafferty, about 33,000 people are already registered for the program, which is run in conjunction with Baltimore County Public Schools.
“We choose a different theme each year that has wide appeal,” Rafferty said. “This year, it?s the ?Catch the Reading Bug? ” read-to-me project for children up to age 5, and “Metamorphosis” for teens.
In addition to drawings for valuable prizes, both projects offer hands-on crafts, activities and programs for all ages.
Towson library manager Jennifer Haire said she anticipates more than 2,000 participants at her branch.
“The staff is very excited and getting the branch decorated so when the children walk in, they?ll notice there?s something different,” Haire said. “We?ll also make changes so there will be hands-on activities for reading members to get more engaged with the library than they?ve been.”
Library administrative worker Robert Hughes added that the reading club is the largest and most successful in the state.
“It makesa world of difference keeping children reading over the summer and to get back to school not having had an interruption in the level of their reading skills,” he said.
This year also marks the first time the libraries are participating in a 40-state cooperative of summer reading clubs while maintaining local and branch-specific services.
