Dominican University Seeks School, Public Libraries to Participate in Study on Summer Reading

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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 10/2/2007 2:05:00 PM

Do summer reading programs really work? That’s what Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) is hoping to find out—and it’s looking for public libraries and elementary schools to participate in its research project.

Specifically, GSLIS is leading a study to find out if third-grade students who participate in public library summer reading programs maintain their reading skills during the summer vacation. As part of the study, researchers are seeking public libraries and elementary schools that have a history of working together or a willingness to collaborate on this program.

“We are looking for public libraries that provide a variety of activities for elementary school students during the summer,” says Susan Roman, GSLIS’s dean, adding that the study specifically targets third graders because, by the fourth grade, kids need to be able to read to learn. “[And] libraries report that there is a drop-off in participation in summer programs among children after fourth grade.”

Roman is calling on public libraries to collaborate with local elementary schools on this project because “education is a communitywide concern.” Only a limited number of public library/elementary school teams will be selected to participate in this study, which will measure the effectiveness of current public library programs and demonstrate the impact of those programs on student achievement.

Project activities will take place in schools at the end of the 2007–2008 school year and the beginning of the 2008–2009 year, and in public libraries during the summer of 2008. Findings will be reported during 2009.

Project coordinator Carole Fiore can also be reached by e-mail at cfiore@dom.edu. And additional information and a two-page application form are available on Dominican University’s Web site.

The deadline for applications is October 15, 2007.