School librarians are collaborators, making connections with community, school, technology, jobseekers, and individuals with language barriers. They have served as a resource of information to the community and students. As an elementary school librarian, the author has become more creative by seriously listening to school community members. What…

This article offers some collaborative ideas that promote reading in the summer and throughout the year. These easy and economical ideas can be adapted and implemented to meet the needs of students. Collaboration can be the key to creating a program that offers more to students via many helping hands. Drawing upon the strengths and expertise of…

Co-author of the popular titles "Booktalking Bonanza" and "The Early Literacy Kit", Betsy Diamant-Cohen brings together 18 examples of successful outreach partnerships that children's librarians and administrators can adapt to their own situations. Contributors from the U.S and Canada explain how they partnered with schools,…

Based on the findings of a recent three-year study by Dominican University's Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, the authors can confirm what many librarians have long suspected: students who take part in their local library's summer reading program significantly improve their reading skills. This article describes the results of…

"Urban Teens in the Library" is the perfect solution for the concerns and uncertainty many librarians face when supporting this group of patrons and students. From a team of experts who have researched the information habits and preferences of urban teens to build better and more effective school and public library programs, this book will show…

The Magic Tree House series is a collection of books by Mary Pope Osborne, each built around a time and place of high interest to young children, with an underlying story that makes children want to read the next book in the series to find out what is going to happen. Here, the authors describe the development of a two-week reading program for…

Summer reading programs are a staple in libraries nationwide and provide a valuable service: keeping teens productive and occupied when they are no longer busy in school. Producing creative programs at the library can be challenging when faced with this easily distracted teen demographic; that's where "Sizzling Summer Reading Programs" steps in.…

As advocates for reading, librarians cannot help but love a reading program. In this article, the author talks about the Battle of the Books, a reading enrichment program that had been in place since 1996. Battle of the Books promotes reading among middle school students by offering interesting books and a trivia-type competition. The author…

Panda bears are the theme of this guide which includes many reading-related activities, crafts, and programs on a broad range of topics, and which can be expanded to other theme approaches such as endangered species, bears in general, and the concept of black and white. The program begins with a general definition and discussion of goals,…

Funded by the Library Services and Construction Act, the 1997 Florida Library Youth Program is an extension of the successful and long-running Florida Summer Library Program to help librarians provide year-round programs for elementary school-aged children. The goal of the program is to introduce children to the library and its services, and to…

This guide to the 1994 summer reading program in Montana provides information and techniques for developing and implementing a summer reading program at public libraries. The first section concentrates on planning and promoting programs, specifying elements of planning, promotion, and program evaluation. "Decorating the Library" contains…

This manual is designed to help youth services specialists in libraries in Texas customize their Reading Club efforts for their communities. A successful reading club requires careful thought, extensive planning, and willing and eager participants. Attracting and engaging these participants is of primary importance, as is the reason for the…

This guide offers suggestions for in-library, community, and school program promotion and activities, including specific ideas for the 1984 theme, "Hats Off to Children." It is intended for libraries participating in the Wisconsin Summer Library Program, which promotes summer use of the library by children, familiarizes them with public…

This manual is a compilation, update, and rejuvenation of 10 of the previous themes from Florida's Summer Library Program, published to commemorate the 25th year of summer library programs in the state. The program is designed primarily for school age children, aged 6 through 12 years, to encourage library use for leisure and continued learning…

The "Go Wild! Read!" theme of the Wisconsin summer library program lends itself to a multiplicity of ideas and programs. This manual brings together many ideas of practical value in the following areas: (1) planning and promoting programs; (2) decorating the library; (3) programs and activities; (4) giveaways and games; (5) performances…