Summer Reading: 2016 Edition

I'll be updating this over the next month, especially adding more details about the activity bags.

Every year I tweak summer reading a little more. This year, thanks to a generous donation from our Friends, I was able to give out bags and I used an idea from a conference - labels instead of registration. I also started putting together activity packs for prizes - my hope is to eventually completely replace food coupons. I also split the programs in two (passes halfway through and a book at the end) and expanded the younger kids program to include 3s and 4s. I have basic instructions for any staff who need to refer to something.

Ready, Set, Read

• Ages 0-5
• 300 bags for initial registration (marked with yarn tie)
• June/July literacy activity log
• Growing Wisconsin Readers brochure
• Kids can choose a prize at registration if appropriate (prizes donated by a local artist - bookmarks etc.)
• Halfway prize - bag with colored bath tablets and rubber ducky
• July/August literacy activity log
• Free book (board book or picture book) as final prize

On Your Mark, Get Set, Read

• Ages 5-12
• Bags (I printed labels with the schools on them and counted those instead of bags)
• June/July reading calendar
• Storywagon brochure
• Kids can choose a prize at registration (prizes donated by a local artist - bookmarks etc.)
• Halfway prize - passes to local attractions
• Old World Wisconsin
• Milwaukee Museum and Planetarium
• Country Springs Water Park (bogo)
• MKE Wave
• July/August reading calendar
• Free book as final prize

Both of these programs get the same incentives. Every five days that are marked off (reading or literacy activities) they get a sticker. Every week they visit the library they get a "surprise". They can accumulate stickers but not weekly surprises. I call them surprises so that I don't have to plan them in advance!

• Stickers from tv tie-in books, Discount School Supply, S&S Worldwide, and the dollar store
• Coupons from Pizza Hut, Pizza Ranch, McDonalds, Qwik Trip, and Caseys
• Activity bags
• Balloon rockets
• Texture book
• Floating Ball
• Marshmallow building
• Bead kit
• Exploding sticks
• Scratch Art

Teens

• 6th grade and up
• Bags (I did have teens register so I could match them up with names when they won)
• Teens can choose a prize at registration (prizes donated by a local artist - bookmarks etc.)
• Teens put their checkout receipts (or a small form) into a box and I draw names from it each week. Their prizes are books and candy bars.

Summer Reading Outreach

• Summer reading registration begins May 31st. I meet with classes at the school and at the library. Last year I registered classes at the library, this year it was decided that we would only register individuals. I distributed flyers that include our fine amnesty coupon to all the kids.
• My main off-site outreach, besides the schools, was attending an International Little Artists festival in a neighboring town.

Resources

• The original inspiration for my younger kids program came from the Rubber Ducky Club
• I created my own early literacy calendars, but was inspired by WLA's Early Literacy Calendars
• I got the idea for activity packs from Abby the Librarian's Science Activity Packs, who very kindly sent me some of her inserts as well. Lisa at Libraryland also had some great ideas for activity packs.