Lincoln Parish Library is ready to dive into reading this summer.
The State Library of Louisiana has announced the statewide 2022 Louisiana Summer Reading Program entitled “Oceans of Possibilities,” a theme celebrating aquatic life and its importance to the world, and LPL is part of that program and is getting into the spirit with a summer reading kickoff party.
From noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, Lincoln Parish Library will have its kickoff party which will feature Kona Ice — and the first 200 patrons receiving a free snow cone — and DAT does the Trick, which will create a balloon animal for kids.
All of Louisiana’s public libraries participate in this program and are planning virtual and in-person literacy and educational programs around this theme for children, teens, and adults, all summer long.
Studies show youth who read during the summer months return to school in the fall at or above their spring reading levels. To continue to be engaged during the summer months, children may participate in the summer reading program all summer long by reading books, attending in-person library programs, and accessing virtual programs and other digital library resources.
“Students who do not read throughout the summer are at risk of falling behind, and, by the end of sixth grade, children who consistently lose reading skills over the summer will be two years behind their classmates,” said State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton. “Public libraries are on the frontline of combating this summer slide, helping students retain what they learned in school, and uniting communities over common interests, like the Summer Reading Program. This is why the State Library’s Summer Reading Program is so important.”
Louisiana public libraries continue to offer programming year round for all ages through a hybrid of virtual and in-person programming; and the Summer Reading Program is an extension of this programming. The State Library continues to support Louisiana’s 340 public libraries in their mission to combat the ‘summer slide’ for school-aged children through hosting fun and educational programs and activities as part of the Summer Reading Program and to continue to build and support communities by creating a culture of literacy.
The State Library belongs to the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a national cooperative to encourage reading throughout the summer. Those registered with the State Library’s Talking Books and Braille Library may also participate. For more information on the Summer Reading Program and other State Library programs, visit www.state.lib.la.us.
