Summer Reading Takes Off at Nation’s Libraries

July 21, 2010

Brigadeer General Kurt Neubauer, commander of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona, shows off his new “Voyage to Book Island” T-shirt, in conjunction with the summer reading program developed by iRead, a committee of the Illinois Library Association. More than 270 libraries serving military families worldwide are participating in

Maggie Wildersmith, 9 months, celebrates her participation in Denton (Tex.) Public Library’s “Catch the Reading Express,” sponsored by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Denton Municipal Electric, Denton South Rotary Club, and the Friends of the Denton Public Library. Program events included a musical performance by The Sugar Free Allstars and weekly reading activities.

More than 2,500 fans toured the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile, took pony rides, and registered for a chance to win a free iPad June 9 in conjunction with

Rob Westcott performs magic tricks and more for about 140 children and parents at Newport News (Va.) Public Library System's main branch June 29. To encourage reading, Westcott used puppets, stuffed bananas, and a live white rabbit called Prince Charming. Credit: Mike Wagner/Newport News Public Library System

Katherine and Aiden Baskersville, 4 and 2 respectively, get a lesson about deer antlers from Park Ranger Becky Holliday at the Wetland Discovery event June 30 at Newport News (Va.) Public Library System's Grissom branch. Credit: Mike Wagner/Newport News Public Library System

Children and their parents form a circle to play songs of various origins, including Cherokee, Nigerian, and Latin, on more than 30 drums at Newport News (Va.) Public Library System’s Grissom branch July 6. The drums were provided by Connie Ralston, who spoke and sang about her 25-year career as a drummer. Credit: Mike Wagner/Newport News Public Library System.

Puppeteer and storyteller Lynn Ruehlmann performs a puppet show in a suitcase July 6 at Newport News (Va.) Public Library System's Main Street branch. The show,

University of South Carolina football players read books to hundreds of children at Richland County Public Library in Columbia. The Pigskin Poets program, now in its 13th season, was held in the library auditorium, which was transformed into a stadium complete with banners, cheerleaders, and USC mascot Cocky.

A family joins Virginia Aquarium representative Laura Fuller at a touch tank to learn about hermit crabs and sea stars July 14 at Newport News (Va.) Public Library's Main Street branch. Credit: Zechariah Robinson/Newport News Public Library System

Natalia Ratcliff, 12, show that she is a star reader of both braille and talking books at the Braille Institute Library Services in Los Angeles July 26. She was recognized during a party for participants and winners of this year's summer reading program.

More than 100 students, teachers, and parents walk the red carpet for the Braille Institute Library Services awards celebration July 26 in Los Angeles. The library was decorated with all the glitter and glamor of a Hollywood event.

Virginia Aquarium Outreach Coordinator Courtney Obland presents a sea star to the audience at Newport News (Va.) Public Library System's Main Street branch July 20. Credit: Zechariah Robinson/Newport News Public Library System

Niekeybieyo Hicks holds his two-month old son Keyblean, while watching over his other children (from left) Chris, Lindwood, Deshawn, and Destiny Copeland, as they prepare fish-printed T-shirts July 21 at Newport News (Va.) Public Library System's Pearl Bailey branch. Credit: Mike Wagner/Newport News Public Library System

Shelly Craig Potter (left) and Cinda Kays perform as musical duo C. Shells July 26 at Newport News (Va.) Public Library System's Grissom branch. Credit: Zechariah Robinson/Newport News Public Library System

Annabel Ohlgren, 5, shows her balloon-designed ballerina constructed by Kenya the Klown during her visit to Newport News (Va.) Pubic Library System's main branch July 28.

Salty Sue, portrayed by Suzy Hammer, shares sea tales with young patrons at Miami-Dade Public Library System's Model City branch July . The program was sponsored by the Miami Dolphins Foundation and the Friends the Miami-Dade Public Library.

Will Lytle, 20, from Elgin, Illinois, pulls his kayak into camp in Wisconsin during his 2,350 mile, 54-day solo journey along the Mississippi river as part of the Gail Borden Public Library's

Frankie Catches a Break

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Max Eddy writes: “It’s a nightmare scenario: You’ve protected all of your online accounts with two-factor authentication (2FA), but then your phone is broken, lost, or stolen, and you’re locked out of everything. Past You’s effort to protect Future You has made Present You’s life a living hell. 2FA is supposed to keep attackers and scammers out of your online accounts, but what if something happens to your second factor? With a little planning, you can reduce that risk and still keep your accounts safe.”

New York Times Wirecutter, Apr. 12
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Nik Altenberg writes: “About 100 librarians and their supporters rallied outside San Francisco Public Library’s Main Library on April 9 to demand the city hire security guards for every branch. Workers decried a lack of security at most of the city’s branches and said they are often forced to de-escalate volatile situations and step into the role of providing security themselves. The rally is the latest in a series of union actions [from 10 unions representing more than 25,000 city workers across city departments] seeking to draw attention to what they say is a pervasive understaffing crisis.”

KQED-TV (San Francisco), Apr. 9
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“Two years after Brooklyn Public Libraries’ (BPL) launch of Books Unbanned, an initiative to protect the freedom to read for young people, In Their Own Words: Youth Voices on Books Unbanned gives new insight into the impact of censorship on teen and young adults across the US and how restrictions and other barriers to access build upon and reinforce each other. The new report, published April 11 by BPL and Seattle Public Library, analyzes 855 stories shared by young people who signed up for a free Books Unbanned ecard from April 2022 through December 2023.”

Seattle Public Library, Apr. 11
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Samantha Guss, Sojourna Cunningham, and Jennifer Stout write: “Recruitment and retention are both critical to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in academic libraries, and failing to improve retention has and will continue to derail these initiatives. Research that addresses retention tends to focus on proposed strategies, such as stay interviews (structured interviews aimed at strengthening employee and employer relationships) and mentorship programs. But there is no agreed-upon definition of retention that would allow us to assess these strategies. We should recognize that involuntary staying can be just as negative an outcome for the individual and the organization as leaving, setting the stage for legacy toxicity.”

In The Library With The Lead Pipe, Apr. 10
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Jackie Edwards writes: “As spring rolls around, seasonal allergies can flare up among library workers, resulting in symptoms like sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itchy eyes, ears, and nose; coughing; and asthma. Not only are these symptoms detrimental to well-being and productivity, but they can also mean you’re less able to provide excellent customer service to library users. Fortunately, by purifying the air, preventing mold, and keeping your work area clean, you can improve indoor air quality and combat allergies in your library.”

Library Worklife, Apr.
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In Episode 94, Call Number celebrates Preservation Week, to be held this year April 28–May 4. The week’s events aim to raise awareness of the role libraries and cultural institutions play in protecting historic and culturally significant collections. Segments include Traci Sorell, honorary chair of this year’s Preservation Week, discussing the role of preservation through storytelling; Kathleen Monahan, special collections public services supervisor at Boston Public Library, addressing the importance of security in preservation; and Rosie Grayburn and Melissa Tedone, cofounders of the Poison Book Project, talking about their research on potentially toxic bookbinding materials from the 19th century.

AL: The Scoop, Apr. 15
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Leigh Kunkel writes: “The legalization of marijuana in many states and municipalities in recent years has created a newly legal industry and budding entrepreneurs who can benefit from the expertise of business librarians. As soon as Washington state introduced an initiative to legalize recreational cannabis use in 2012, Seattle Public Library librarian Jay Lyman started fielding questions from potential entrepreneurs. Since then, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis use, and 14 more have legalized medical use of cannabis. This cultural shift brings a new opportunity for libraries to step in with support services.”

American Libraries Trend, Mar./Apr.

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Summer Reading Takes Off at Nation’s Libraries

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