In summer, children lose some of the academic ground they gained during the school year. For many, this amounts to two and a half months of progress lost in their reading skills. Children in low-income areas are particularly at risk, with fewer learning opportunities and resources available in the summer. DML, Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority and ReadySetSOAR (local cradle-to-career education initiative), in collaboration with faith-based volunteers, combined efforts reaching out to children living in low-income apartment complexes with the goals of increasing participation in our Summer Reading program, narrowing the reading achievement gap and encouraging a love of books.

In spring, DML’s Early Literacy Librarian provided training on read-aloud techniques to volunteers from local churches. Each week during the summer, these trained volunteers visited common areas at low-income apartments and read books aloud to children ranging in age from two years to sixth grade. A Children’s Librarian joined each session to read and issue new library cards. The Bookmobile visited each site three times during the summer to give children the opportunity to select their own books from the library’s collection and receive prizes for their reading/listening accomplishments. Community partners provided free books for the children to keep.

Children who might not otherwise engage in summer reading had the focused attention of interested, motivated adults using read-aloud strategies that build literacy skills. These children added self-selected new books to their homes, and received incentives to keep on reading. They had access to high-quality, diverse children’s literature, received student library cards and borrowed popular library books. Most significantly, they heard repeated messaging and modeling about the importance of reading. The active participation of a skilled and friendly Children’s Librarian communicated to the children and their families that the library is a valuable resource for them.