During the Dog Days of Summer

image by Tony Alter

Summer reading is still vitally important to achievement.  Students lose approximately twenty five percent of their reading fluency over the summer.  Inadequate access to books is one of the major factors in reading loss.  

The library is open for business this summer.  Not physically mind you, but digitally.  We have invested in the Magic Wall eBook system from Baker and Taylor.  Because they are one of the largest book vendors in the nation and are relatively new to the eBook business, they are eager to accept smaller clients, like school libraries.  The market for eBooks in libraries has been dominated by Overdrive.  They allow you to lease the titles, but you don't own them.  The Pima County Public Library subscribes to Overdrive, but we don't have their deep pockets.   Barnes and Noble and Amazon are the other big time vendors but you have to pay for your easy to use interface.  Our eBooks are free and up-to-date.  

Future purchases for the Magic Wall will partially be determined through student requests. The form is on the library web page.  Of course I will still check reviews to determine whether an eBook belongs in our library.  Before school is out I will be visiting English classrooms to help students sign up for the Magic Wall and get the apps they need to make it work on their devices (tablets, phones, e-readers).

Common threads among students who identify as readers:

• like to discuss what they are reading with family and friends
• reading is part of who they are - Readers
• see reading as a recreational activity and devote time to it as individuals and as a family
• have access and support for reading beyond the basics, lots of choice 
• "readers read no matter what"

Students Need:

• models of reading enjoyment (parents, siblings, friends)
• access to interesting books (Magic Wall, Public Library, bookstores)
• free choice in what they read

Suggestions for Summer Reading can be gleaned from:

Goodreads Choice Awards 2013
Outstanding Books For the College Bound

YALSA's Teen Book Finder App

Works Cited

McGaha, Julie M., and L. Brent Igo. “Assessing High School Students’ Reading Motivation In A Voluntary Summer Reading Program.” Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy55.5 (2012): 417-427. Academic Search Premier. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

         <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=70857420&site=ehost-live>

Mraz, M., and T. V. Rasinski. “Summer Reading Loss.” Reading Teacher May 2007: 784-89. Literary Reference Center. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=24958565&site=ehost-live>.

Pitcher, Sharon M., et al.  “Assessing Adolescents’ Motivation to Read.”  Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 50.5 (2007): 378-396. Literary Reference Center. Web. 22 April 2014  http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=23913236&site=ehost-live

Strommen, Linda Teran and Barbara Fowles Mates. “Learning to Love Reading: Interviews with Older Children and Teens.”  Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 48.3 (2004)188-200 Academic Search Premier. Web. 22 Apr 2014 <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=15096999&site=ehost-live>