Rebecca Winning, communications and public affairs manager, Jefferson County Public Library
September 1, 2010
Early this summer, Jefferson County (CO) Public Library's (JCPL) young adult librarians issued a challenge to their teen readers. If kids helped the library meet its summer reading club goals, then staffers would dye their hair whatever color their young adult patrons chose. On August 24, JCPL's young adult librarians started the day with (mostly) naturally colored hair and ended up looking like the rock stars they are, with blue, green, mauve, and purple hair.
The group came up with this idea to motivate teens to sign up for–and complete–the library's summer reading clubs. The challenge also helped increase the number of teen readers who participated in the summer reading club program–another goal of the group. "We're passionate about helping kids gain solid reading skills," says Jenny Butler, young adult information services librarian at JCPL's Golden Library. "Reading is a foundational skill that sets the stage for life-long learning, and so it's good for kids to get an early start."
"It's important for kids to keep up their reading skills during the summer months," adds Arra Katona, a young adult information services librarian at Lakewood Public Library. "Studies have documented a 'summer slide' in reading skills once school lets out. Kids who don't read over the summer can lose the equivalent of about two months of school during the summer, and the loss compounds every year."
When asked about having blue, purple, green and mauve hair for the next four to six weeks, the librarians were united in their response: "If purple hair helps kids to read more, then we should all have purple hair." The summer reading clubs were supported by the Jefferson County Library Foundation, and Paul Mitchell The School Denver donated its stylist skills.
Photos:
Jenny Butler, a librarian at the Golden Library, goes for mauve streaks.
JCPL librarians model their new rock star look. Left to right: Jenny Butler, Arra Katone, Amy Denniff, Rene Yaws, Jenna Obee, Shelly Belleau.
Awesome!! I think this is fabulous. What a great motivator for kids! And what a great way to show your passion about what you stand for - teen literacy - thanks so much for posting this.
J.
Posted by J.S. Alleva on September 1, 2010 11:44:00AM
Yay! So fun. Arra's hair looks amazing.
Posted by Terri on September 1, 2010 02:53:31PM
This is just way too cool!!!!
Posted by Lisa Yee on September 1, 2010 11:40:22PM
I did this a few years ago and it was a big hit. Rock on.
Posted by Tina on September 4, 2010 12:46:39PM
I am planning to do this for this fall. We are located across the street from a middle school and, for the most part, they are lack luster readers. I will do ANYthing to get these kids reading. Well...almost anything.
Posted by Meg Anastasi Springfield MA on September 9, 2010 06:29:14PM
Love it! As a middle school librarian, I'm always looking for fun promotions that encourage our kids to read more, to help us to have successful book fairs, and get our students involved. I had some of my staff join me in hair-dye stunts before--and with this slogan, I think we can pull it off again. :D BTW, you ladies look fab!
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