Title
Receive an oral report from the County Librarian regarding the Library Department's Summer Reading Program. (ADDED VIA ADDENDUM)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Receive an oral report from the County Librarian regarding the Library Department's Summer Reading Program
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Library Department, operating as the Monterey County Free Libraries (MCFL), has served residents of Monterey County for over a hundred years bringing ideas, inspiration, information and enjoyment to the community. MCFL serves people of all ages, but its services to children have some of the greatest and longest term impacts on lives and on the community.
Every summer, for a period of six weeks, MCFL, like most libraries throughout the country, engages in an intensive summer reading program. During this period, children of all ages are encouraged to read and come to the library to attend programs that are cultural, inspiring, and entertaining. These programs are particularly meaningful to many communities served by MCFL which have no other forms of entertainment or cultural performances.
Participation in a summer reading program has been shown to have the direct beneficial effect of preventing a summer slide, a drop in reading abilities, from which is hard for children to recover. The summer programs which bring children into the library are fun, but they are also inspiring and can be life changing for many children. In addition, for Monterey County, where opportunities for being drawn into gangs or criminal activities are common, or the likelihood of becoming a victim can result from being in the wrong place at the wrong time, keeping children in a safe and positive environment is crucial.
Some facts about MCFL's annual Summer Reading Program:
- Fosters a love of reading and the arts
- Is family focused: available for children, teens and adults
- Brings the community together
- Introduces attendees to the many services available through the library
- Gets an average 3,000 sign-ups every summer, of which about 2,500 are children aged 0-12
- Offers over 100 programs at various MCFL branches and County locations
- Offers programs for children, teens and adults, ranging in topic from juggling, magic, and cultural dance and music, to drawing instructions and nutrition and healthy eating
- Draws an average of 6,500 people attendees annually to these professionally presented programs
- Encourages volunteer participation and support and is financed almost entirely by the Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
FINANCING:
None
Prepared by: Jayanti Addleman, County Librarian, (831) 883-7573
Approved by: Jayanti Addleman, County Librarian, (831) 883-7573
Attachments:
Presentation slides