Seattle libraries’ “Summer Reading Program”: Not just for kids!

Maybe you heard about Seattle Public Library‘s “Summer Reading Program” and thought it was for kids only. Not so! SPL’s Liz Kaune shares this info, with some updated stats:

It’s July! This can mean only one thing: The Seattle Public Library is well into its annual Summer Reading Program.

We know West Seattle loves its libraries and here’s an easy way to get involved: Visit any of our five local branches to sign up for the Summer Reading Program!

You probably know that all the libraries sponsor fun free programs, but did you know we also have goals that we’re trying to meet? Each branch determines the number of kids, teens and adults it expects to sign up, and the number of books it expects them to read. The combined goal for West Seattle is 1,510 readers of all ages and 17,280 books read by Aug. 30. Right now they’re at about 50 percent overall.

Percentage-wise, teens are leading the pack, which certainly counters stereotypes that teens don’t read. Adult sign-ups have reached about 65 percent and kids are at 35 percent.

So we need more people to head over to their local branch and sign up! The five Library branches in West Seattle and vicinity are listed below.

* Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W., 206-733-9125
* High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St., 206-684-7454
* South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S., 206-615-1688
* Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W., 206-684-7455
* West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W., 206-684-7444

Every book and all readers count! It doesn’t matter how old you are or what books you read. And you don’t have to read Library books – you can read books you already own, or you can listen to audiobooks.

Please help us reach our local reading goal, and the goal for the entire Library system, which is 125,000 books. Check out www.spl.org or visit a Library location for more information.

Ken July 8, 2009 (12:56 pm)

ok. So explain it to me in small words.

Why.

What is the goal of this program? New readers? Do adult non readers really respond to this kind of marketing crap? No.

Encourage kids to read? The prizes I saw in the flyer look like punishment to me.

What kind of idiot with a new library science degree thought enlisting library patrons in a job justification jubilee would be a good idea? Just query the transfer/ checkout database for the period and leave the patrons alone.

If you want to encourage reading, sort and display your new books section, publish an acquisitions email and print newsletter and focus on specific authors and genres once in a while.

Recently I have been reading 3 to 5 book per week but that’s the lifelong addiction I have been fighting a losing battle with since I was 4.

I guess some of you have never spent any time in world class libraries but the selection of on site stuff in the WS branches are depressing and embarrassing. If not for the web search, inter library loans, online DB’s and the main library I would be tempted to turn in my card.

I hope someone has a plan to acquire a realistic e-book distribution format when the current scammers finally die.

J July 8, 2009 (3:06 pm)

I think it’s kind of fun to celebrate reading! Like you, Ken, the summer reading program doesn’t make me read more, as my addiction already accounts for plenty of my time–but I do like the celebration of books and reading. I do confess I’m not so keen on giving kids prizes for reading, nor for the children’s program focus on quantity–I read as a child because the reading itself was the reward, and I do hope all children might have that joy.

So now I’m curious about your current reading list, Ken–perhaps you’ve got something good I ought to know about. Care to share?

J July 8, 2009 (3:08 pm)

Oh, I goofed up that second sentence. I meant to say, “Like you, Ken, I find the summer reading program doesn’t make me read more…”

Wishing for an edit button…

Amy July 9, 2009 (12:19 pm)

The Summer Reading Program prizes for participating kids are a book of their choice, their name on the wall, and free entry for their family into the Burke Museum. Those are simple, educational prizes that the kids get really excited about.
I remember the first book that I ever won by reading in a program like this–I am 32 years old, and I still remember feeling like it was really special.

Penny July 9, 2009 (4:22 pm)

I don’t really understand how the prizes seem like a punishment, a free book and a free trip to the Burke Museum are exciting for kids and for their parents. The Summer Reading Program isn’t hurting anyone, although there may not be prizes, and maybe it won’t convince people to read more, but SPL is a place that tries really hard to make things fun for everyone and obviously budget cuts won’t allow it to give out free starbucks cards as an incentive like before. So they are not going to get rid of it altogether, because believe it or not adults and teens DO still sign up for it, for fun, for the benefit of us seeing how much our community reads, and that itself provides somewhat of an incentive for people in the community to know how much of us aren’t being sucked into a world of television and movies and computers, and are still reading great books.
SPL does display new books, and old books, and all books, and the librarians do a great job in advertising popular authors and helping people find what they want. The Summer Reading Program also provides a chance for adults to write reviews on books that they have read, which are published on the website and is a great way to advertise books to the community. Staff also write book reviews frequently, which is also really great, so I don’t really think that abolishing the Summer Reading Program would really accomplish any more than it existing.
Also, great to hear that the teen numbers are up, especially with the stereotypes about teens not reading and especially since there is not much of an incentive to sign up for the program.

Caroline Ullmann July 10, 2009 (8:36 am)

Thanks for the questions. The Seattle Public Library has offered a Summer Reading Program for 90 years. For many years, the program was aimed at children, but we retooled it this year because we noticed people of all ages attended events with a broader age appeal, such as gaming, zines or bookmaking.

Kids seem to love to keep track of the books they read – more than 14,000 kids generally sign up each summer and 7,000+ routinely read at least 10 books (any book counts – not just library books). We thought teens and adults also might enjoy helping us reach our reading goal of 125,000 books read.

Our goals for the program are:
• To keep school-age children reading, since research shows that summer readers do better on fall reading tests.
• To encourage reading for pleasure for people of all ages.
• To provide opportunities for lifelong learning.
• To nurture a sense of community.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, we are able to give kids who read at least 10 books a free paperback book, a free pass to the Burke Museum, & the chance to have a fancy free breakfast with the city librarian at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.

Check the Library’s Web site at http://www.spl.org for more information, or to sign up to receive a monthly newsletter about programs, events or services, or to receive e-mails that list new and interesting books.

The branches in West Seattle are part of The Seattle Public Library system, which includes 2 million books and other items, many electronic resources, the Web site and catalog, and the ability to have a book sent from another branch to a branch of your choice.

Hope you have a change of heart and sign up for the Summer Reading Program – we’d love to count your 3-5 books a week. But regardless, have a wonderful summer indulging your reading habit – it’s a great addiction!

Caroline Young Ullmann
Communications Office
The Seattle Public Library
caroline.ullmann@spl.org

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