Take advantage of state library's summer reading program
With the summer recess from school just a few weeks away, many parents are thinking of ways to keep their children's minds and bodies active after those first weeks of euphoric freedom erode to boredom. Let me suggest that before you become frazzled, your local library may offer a solution.

For the past six years, The New Jersey State Library has supported the New Jersey Library Association's statewide summer reading program with a $50,000 grant. This worthwhile initiative has attracted more and more children and teens each year. In fact, in 2007, over 154,550 children and teens across New Jersey participated in public library summer reading programs, reading nearly one million books. .

As State Librarian and a former English teacher, encouraging and promoting early literacy is one of my top priorities. I have traveled around the state promoting literacy and reading initiatives, and encouraging both children and adults to get excited about reading. Each year the summer reading program has a theme, which many libraries adopt.

This year, young readers will enjoy getting "bugged" as the themes are "Catch the Reading Bug" for children and "Metamorphosis" for teens. Public libraries all over our state will be scheduling activities for children and teens from mid-June through August, not only to entertain them with stories and activities about insects, like ladybugs and fireflies, but also to educate themabout the nature and benefits of these small creatures. Using their attraction to bugs as a springboard, we hope to bring more young people into our libraries, attract new users, promote the services and materials our libraries offer the public, and offer children and teens a valuable social experience through many different activities, such as book discussion groups and craft activities

As more children and teens make their local library the place to go this summer, it will give parents a chance to get acquainted with what the library has to offer them, as well, such as access to a variety of newspapers and magazines, audio books, business databases, movies, and meeting areas for local groups. It will also give parents a chance to talk to their children about what they are reading and what is interesting them and tying it to other activities.

We know that for teens, reading leads to success. It expands their vocabularies, improves writing skills, increases their knowledge and expands their view of their world. Another big dividend is getting a good score on the verbal section of a college admissions test. Participating libraries will be registering children and teens for their programs in early June. Check to see what your local library is doing. I encourage all parents to look into this great program with their children.
Norma E. Blake
New Jersey State Librarian