This study examined how Finnish teachers and public librarians worked together after attending a literacy programme. During the programme the participant partners planned and implemented literacy activities which they shared with other participating partners. After the program, four participating partners were interviewed. A theoretical model that…

Literacy development in the early childhood and elementary school years is critical for learning and the acquisition of other skills essential for educational achievement. Although schools typically assume the primary responsibility in developing children's literacy and reading skills, a holistic approach to overall literacy development requires…

Each year, Colorado public libraries offer engaging summer reading programs to encourage children and teens to read for fun and to prevent summer learning loss. In summer 2014, the Colorado State Library invited Colorado public libraries to ask parents in their communities to help evaluate the effectiveness of these programs by completing a…

Several instruments previously validated for use in school library research were tested for their appropriateness in the context of public libraries' summer reading programs for youth. The researchers were also interested in whether the connection between perceived competence in one's own information skills and perceived competence in one's own…

The school in which this research project took place, Papatoetoe Central, was concerned about research evidence that indicated students' reading achievement dropped after long summer breaks. This drop in achievement, known as "the summer effect", has been reported in schools in New Zealand and internationally (Alexander, Entwisle, &…

This article reports on a research study designed to identify who participates in library-based summer reading clubs (SRCs) and why they elect to do so. To address this aim, questionnaires were completed by caregivers of 246 children upon enrollment to the SRC of a metropolitan library as well as 480 youth; the questionnaire was designed to learn…

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…

Bookbabies, an initiative from the Flemish Reading Association and the Flemish Centre for Public Libraries, is a pilot project organised in 10 Flemish cities where local public libraries worked together with 82 couples with young babies for two years to set up a programme called "having fun with books". The objectives of the research…

Reports on a study of the effects of participation in public library summer reading programs on children's reading skills. Results on a standardized test administered to 279 students in grades 1-5 in May and September are analyzed and compared for participants and nonparticipants in the summer reading program. (MES)

A questionnaire concerning reading was sent to Indiana middle, junior, and senior high schools in 1992 and a report was written at that time. The same questionnaire was sent to the same schools in 2003. During this period of time increased interest was shown throughout the nation in reading achievement and high school graduation rates. The purpose…

A study investigated the reading achievement of participants in the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library's incentive-based summer reading program. Subjects, 44 first, second, and third grade students from 23 different local public schools who had participated in the summer reading program at 4 inner-city brances of the public library,…

Describes experimental 2-year pilot project conducted at 21 randomly selected community libraries in Los Angeles County Public Library system to test feasibility and measure results of a children's services proposal. The proposed year-round reading program is designed to meet needs of changing academic programs in schools and changing juvenile…

The main insight given by this study of summer reading lists is that what students are assigned to read has more to do with individual teachers' beliefs and knowledge than any concrete practice. Teachers who make summer readings lists seem to be divided somewhat equally between focus on cultural literacy and desire to create lifelong learners.…

Recreational reading has proved its importance in the public library systems nationwide, as confirmed by circulation records and significant consideration in library budgets, indicating the need to develop systems that bring the book and the reader together in a systematic way. This paper seeks to define the operation of readers' advisory programs…

Briefly summarizes findings from a report from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, on a survey of 846 public libraries. The study focused on their children's services and resources, including children's access to materials, cooperation with schools, and summer reading programs and story hours. (LRW)