Title
Phoenix Public Library's 2024 Summer Reading Program and Overview of Library Youth Services
Description
This report provides the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee with information regarding Phoenix Public Library's 2024 Annual Summer Reading Program and an overview of Phoenix Public Library's Youth Services.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Providing families with access to the expertise and a setting to help their children have a bright future is a primary focus of Phoenix Public Library. One of the most significant needs in our community is school readiness and building early literacy skills that are developed and expanded through the elementary and secondary education years. Phoenix Public Library offers opportunities for children and teens to grow through programs, resources, expert advice and spaces.
Annual Summer Reading Program
Summer Reading 2024, themed "Adventure Begins at Your Library," will officially kick off on June 1, 2024, and continue through Aug. 1, 2024. While the program is open to all ages, the heart of it is an online, interactive game featuring avatars, digital badges and educational challenges for children (developed in partnership with the Arizona Department of Education). Participants are encouraged to read at least 20 minutes a day, which is a standard benchmark for developing and maintaining reading skills. Research demonstrates that children who read during out-of-school time, after school and during summer vacation perform better on reading assessments. Voluntary reading, at least 20 minutes a day, during summer vacation is particularly important to stem or reverse summer reading loss.
Each minute of reading earns one point, with a goal of logging 1,000 or more minutes during the summer. The online game is paired with a wide range of family friendly programs, including theater and music performances, magic shows, wellness workshops, STEM activities, and weekly prize drawings for kids and teens at all 17 Phoenix Public Library (PPL) locations. Participants receive a free gently-used book at registration and a new book at completion. In addition, children and teens earn another new book at the half-way point, along with other prizes. Phoenix Public Library's Summer Reading Program 2023 saw more than 23,500 customers reading and logging minutes.
Phoenix Public Library Youth Services
For the purposes of the library's collections, programs and services, the youth market is grouped into three age groups: Pre Readers (birth to five), School age children (ages six to 12) and Teens (ages 13 to 18).
Birth to Five - With the youngest children, focus is on caregiver education in early literacy and school readiness skills in both programming and children's spaces. Every Phoenix Public Library has elements of research based intentional play spaces. Many are installations designed by a local woman-owned business, Burgeon Group, that specializes in museum quality pieces that are based on early literacy learning skills. Phoenix Public Library's Storytime programs are scripted and intentional; every program begins with a specific Early Learning message and incorporates supporting activities. Following the I-WE-YOU model (I demonstrate, WE do it together, YOU do it at home with your child), Phoenix Public Library's Early Literacy programs give caregivers a two-generational model and tools. Premiere Phoenix Public Library school readiness programs include: Kindergarten Bootcamp and Tools for School, assisting families in getting their young ones ready for school through sessions that are based on Arizona standards for Kindergarten; and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten which purposefully reminds adults to read to their children every day. Phoenix Public Library's Early Literacy programs are really adult education with a focused strategy to empower caregivers raising young children to best to prepare their children for school. Phoenix Public Library collaborates closely with the City of Phoenix's Office of Youth and Education. Two Phoenix Families First Resource Centers are provided at Burton Barr Central and Cesar Chavez Library, offering referrals and programming for families on everything from car safety to developmental screening to nutrition and more.
School Age - During the elementary years, Phoenix Public Library offers after school programs and library staff work with teachers throughout Phoenix school districts, making classroom visits and leading library tours. In-library programming has a large focus on STE/AM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) with many library locations holding weekly STE/AM and makerspace programs such as coding, robotics and other sciences through hands on exploration. Summer Reading and special programs are offered during school breaks and regular passive activities (library scavenger hunts, take and make crafts, etc.) are offered year round ensuring there is always something new to explore. Eight years ago, Phoenix Public Library launched an annual "Amazing Library Card" campaign emphasizing library visits to classrooms to promote kids signing up for Phoenix Public Library cards with 3,000 to 5,000 new cards routinely issued each year. Phoenix Public Library is also a founding member of "Read On Phoenix" - the community collective led by the City of Phoenix Office of Youth and Education with a primary goal of supporting children reading on grade level by the third grade. With recent American Rescue Plan Act funding, Phoenix Public Library and Read On Phoenix have worked hand-in-hand with Read Across America to provide tutoring at Phoenix Public Libraries, schools and community centers.
Teens - Teens need a place to be that is safe and non-judgmental, where they can hang out with friends or take advantage of programs. Teen programs through the library provide a space with caring adults who inspire teens to learn job skills, express themselves through the arts, experience their first job, pursue higher education and more. College Depot at Phoenix Public Library provides pathways to secondary education through scholarship and college application workshops and expos and hands-on assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For many teens, Phoenix Public Library is their first job. Each summer we have more than 150 teens apply, interview and are trained as library volunteers.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Library Department.