TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Coming Up This Month
2. SLP Update
2a. State Superintendent's Web Message about the Summer Reading Program
2b. State Park Passes Remain Available
2c. Two Rivers SLP Decorating Ideas
2d. Site for Bug Stuff
3. Teen Services
3a. Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium
3b. Copyright Issues Regarding Video Game Tournaments
3c. New Pew Report on Teens and Writing Released
3d. Podcast on How to Start a Student Advisory Committee
3e. AskAway sponsors YouTube Video Contest for Teens and Young Adults
3f. 5th Edition of Excellence in Library Services to Youth Adults is Released
3g. Great Interactive Software for Kids (ages 14 and younger)
3h. Todd Wehr Library in DePere Part of an ALA Study on Gaming
3i. Wisconsin Council on Children and Family Offers Adolescent Brain Training Workshops
4. Grants and Scholarships
4a. Libri Foundation Grants
4b. Dollar General Literacy Grants
4c. WLA Library Continuing Education Scholarships
4d. 2009 National Library Week Grant
4e. Disney Minnie Grants
4f. Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Grants
4g. Barbara Bush Foundation Family Literacy Grants
5. Kid!@Your Library Promotion Adds Updates
6. Tasha Tudor Dies
7. Libraries and Autism: We're Connected Video
8. Highlights of the New Scholastic Reading Survey
9. Dog Days of Summer
10. Monthly Postings are Archived on the Youth Services Web Page
11. Upcoming Events in 2008
1. Coming Up This Month
July is:
Eye Injury Prevention Month, American Academy of Ophthalmology, www.aao.org
Hot Dog Month, National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, www.hot-dog.org
July and June are
Fireworks Safety Months www.preventblindness.org/news/observe.html#June
2. SLP Update
2a. State Superintendent's Web Message about the Summer Reading Program
Summer reading is fun, but there's a special value that extends into the school year. Students who read four to six books during the summer return to school ready to learn. Research has shown what teachers have known forever: students who do not engage in educational activities during summer vacation suffer learning loss. That loss can amount to as much as two to three months of learning each year. The greatest learning losses are procedural and factual information, meaning children who don't read in the summer tend to start the school year fuzzy on math and spelling. Summer readers, however, return to school in fall more enthusiastic about reading and learning. Many gain a month of learning by staying engaged and involved during the summer break from school.
It really doesn't matter what kinds of materials children read during vacation; in fact, it's better for youth to pick what they like. Joke books, magazines, mysteries, or sports stories-whatever suits their fancy is best for recreational reading. There are no tests or reports. This reading is at a comfortable level to keep it fun. Still, recreational reading develops vocabulary and builds reading speed and comprehension skills.
Wisconsin's public libraries are great for children to select reading material, and the price is right: free. Adding adventure to the reading fun, each year Wisconsin joins 46 member states in the Collaborative Summer Library program, which provides high-quality summer reading materials based on a topic. This year's theme for preschool and elementary students is "Catch the Reading Bug!" Programming for teens centers around "Metamorphosis@Your Library."
Children and teens who register for the Summer Library Program receive a reading record to tally the number of pages, minutes, or books they've read. Many libraries offer literacy games and activities and provide incentives to support reading efforts. This year, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, children who meet their reading goals earn a day pass good for one free car admission to any one of 58 state parks, forests, or recreational areas in the state. There is so much to gain by reading during the summer. I encourage all families to visit the library and "Catch the Reading Bug!" Elizabeth Burmaster, State Superintendent
http://dpi.wi.gov/sprntdnt/index.html
2b. State Park Passes Remain Available
If anyone needs more state park passes, I do have extras, just let me know. (Some libraries in the southern and eastern parts of the state are involved with a promotion with the Renaissance Faire. I have a limited number of those passes as well.)
2c. Two Rivers SLP Decorating Ideas
While I was on vacation I had the delightful opportunity of stopping to visit both the Manitowoc and Two Rivers public libraries. The gigantic butterflies in the windows of the second story of the Manitowoc library can be seen from a long way off. The foyer going up into the children's department featured giant bugs hanging from the ceiling.
The Two Rivers library also went all out with the theme decorating this summer. One of my favorite ideas included a garbage can flowing with "clean garbage" including a pair of underpants, plastic bugs, and books about garbage and recycling. They cut out fairly large ants out of Styrofoam, painted them brown, added feet, antennae, and eyes and then strung them on fish line to make lines of marching three-dimensional ants all over the walls and entrance ways. They stuffed panty hose to make giant earth worms for some of their displays. There was so much interest in the giant butterflies they hung from the ceiling that people asked if they could buy them. They are thinking of having a butterfly auction at the end of the summer as a fund raiser. Two Rivers has pictures of their decorations and programs on line at www.flickr.com/photos/lesterpubliclibrary/sets/72157605044879636/.
It is an absolute delight for me to walk into libraries this summer and see how each library uses the theme in different ways. Librarians report the bug theme is extremely easy to work with and lots of fun. Best wishes to all of you on your summer programs.
2d. Site for Bug Stuff
If you are still looking for a few interesting bug related items check out Cool Bug Stuff at www.CoolBugStuff.com.
3. Teen Services
3a. Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium
The second annual ALA TechSource Gaming, Learning and Libraries Symposium will be held November 2-4, 2008, in Oak Brook, Illinois. The Symposium is sponsored by ALA TechSource, in collaboration with the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), and the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA). http://gaming.techsource.ala.org/index.php/Main_Page
3b. Copyright Issues Regarding Video Game Tournaments
An article in the June 1, 2008 edition of School Library Journal addresses the question of copyright in regard to video gaming tournaments. Popular games such as "Guitar Hero" are usually intended for home use. Carrie Russell who wrote the article gives some suggestions on what libraries that offer tournaments might do, but further clarification is probably needed. To read the complete article, go to www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6565670.html&
Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, stopped at the Ninendo exhibit booth while she was at the ALA conference to see if she could get a clarification from them. The sales person promised to send a letter of clarification and Shawn said she would share that with the folks in Wisconsin. Thanks, Shawn! This won't be definative for every company but may be helpful as a general guide.
ALA does have some information on copyright and use of games in the library at http://gaming.ala.org/resources/index.php?title=Main_Page
I went to numerous sessions on videogaming for teens while I was at conference to see if I could track down information regarding copyright use. Videogaming in libraries is very popular and done frequently all over the country. In many cases the companies donate the software and sometimes even the gaming systems. So although I didn't find out anything specific, I do know that the libraries with the most experience are not running into copyright use challenges from the game producers. I will continue to monitor this issue and share anything more I hear about it.
3c. New Pew Report on Teens and Writing Released
The state of writing among teens today is marked by an interesting paradox. While teens are heavily embedded in a tech-rich world and craft a significant amount of electronic text, they see a fundamental distinction between their electronic social communications and the more formal writing they do for school or for personal reasons.
All of this matters more than ever because teenagers and their parents uniformly believe that good writing is the bedrock for future success. Eight in ten parents believe that good writing skills are more important now than they were 20 years ago, and 86% of teens believe that good writing ability is an important component of guaranteeing success later in life.
These are among the key findings in a national phone survey of 700 youth ages 12-17 and their parents conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project and the National Commission on Writing. The survey was completed in mid-November and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. The report also contains findings from eight focus groups in four U.S. cities conducted in the summer of 2007.
The Project is an initiative of the Pew Research Center, a nonprofit "fact tank" that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. Pew Internet explores the impact of the internet on children, families, communities, the work place, schools, health care and civic/political life. The Project is nonpartisan and takes no position on policy issues. Support for the project is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
View the free report "Writing, Technology and Teens" [PDF] at this site: www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Writing_Report_FINAL3.pdf (Stephen's Lighthouse, April 24, 2008
--from the Wisconsin Valley Library System electronic newsletter, "The Lamplighter" June 2008
3d. Podcast on How to Start a Student Advisory Committee
If you've ever thought about starting a student advisory committee at your library, or you're interested in ways to improve a committee you already have in place, you may want to listen to a free new podcast available from the Virginia chapter of the Association of College & Research Libraries (VLACRL). The podcast is a recording of a session on student advisory committees from VLACRL's May 19, 2008 spring program (Studying Students: Inviting a Fresh Perspective on Your Library) at Sweet Briar College. To view the podcast go to http://vla.org/blog/?p=302. The hour-long recording features Mary Ellen Spencer (Virginia Commonwealth University) and Matt Ball (University of Virginia) speaking about the student advisory committees at their respective schools. -from the Indianhead Library System electronic newsletter, "Newsflashes," June 12, 2008.
3e. AskAway sponsors YouTube Video Contest for Teens and Young Adults
For the past two years residents across Wisconsin have turned to AskAway for reliable answers to all sorts of questions. Now AskAway is encouraging residents to share their positive experiences by creating and posting short videos as a part of the "I Love AskAway" YouTube video contest for teens and young adults. Entries should consist of an original video that depicts the AskAway chat service that is available to all state residents at www.askaway.info. Videos should be 30 to 60 seconds long (longer videos may be edited), and must either be uploaded to YouTube (www.youtube.com) or submitted on DVD or CD-ROM by July 31, 2008. Complete rules and an application form are available at http://askaway.pbwiki.com/YouTube+Contest+Entry+Page.
To be considered, a video may not contain content that is inappropriate, people in the video must have agreed to be filmed, and you may not violate any library policies during the creation of your video. All entrants also must have completed an application and signed a release form. Youth services librarians and members from library teen councils across Wisconsin will judge the videos, and winners will be chosen based on how informative and entertaining their submission is.
First prize is a $150 Best Buy gift certificate and second prize is a $75 Best Buy gift certificate. Contest winners will be announced Sept. 2, 2008. The submission deadline is July 31, 2008.
-from a posting by Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System
3f. 5th Edition of Excellence in Library Services to Youth Adults is Released
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the publication of "Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, 5th Edition," edited by Amy Alessio for YALSA with a foreword by Mary K. Chelton, editor of the book's first three editions. The book is published by YALSA with support from the Margaret A. Edwards Trust.
"Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults" compiles the winners of YALSA's recognition project of the same name, announced last summer. The five winners were selected by YALSA as the best programs in libraries for young adults, along with 20 "best of the rest. Each program summary provides ideas for replicating and adapting the winning programs in school and public libraries. Organized for easy browsing, each chapter encourages readers to think about the range of possible programs and illustrates the growing trend of including teens in every aspect of the program.
Amy J. Alessio is the teen coordinator at the Schaumburg Township District Library in Illinois and an active YALSA member. She finishes her term as YALSA's fiscal officer this month and also previously edited YAttitudes, YALSA's e-mail newsletter. She also teaches online courses and licensed institutes for YALSA on teen services.
The book can be purchased through the ALA Store at www.alastore.ala.org.
3g. Great Interactive Software for Kids (ages 14 and younger)
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has selected its Spring 2008 list of Great Interactive Software for Kids (GISK), which recognizes high-quality computer programs and digital media for children 14 years of age and younger. To review the list go to http://ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/june2008/ALSCgisk.cfm
3h. Todd Wehr Library in DePere Part of an ALA Study on Gaming
The Todd Wehr Library at St. Norbert College in DePere is one of 12 libraries selected to participate in a $1 million dollar grant from the Verizon Foundation to the American Library Association. It is hoped the grant will provide the library community with vital information and resources that will model and help sustain effective gaming programs and services. The project will track and measure the impact of videogaming on literacy skills. The result of the study will be the creation of a "Librarians Guide to Gaming" toolkit. This toolkit will be a comprehensive, online literacy and gaming toolbox which will be field tested by librarians around the country. As part of the grant, the American Library Association will work directly with 12 leading gaming experts in public libraries around the country to document the use of gaming as a literacy tool and monitor the results of gaming initiatives.
Using the Verizon grant, the American Library Association (ALA) will launch this innovative project to track and measure the impact of gaming on literacy skills and build a model for library gaming that can be deployed nationally;
"Gaming is a magnet that attracts library users of all types and, beyond its entertainment value, has proven to be a powerful tool for literacy and learning," said ALA President Loriene Roy. "Through the Verizon Foundation's gift, ALA's gaming for learning project will provide the library community with vital information and resources that will model and help sustain effective gaming programs and services."
http://ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/june2008/verizon08.cfm
-- from Library Hotline, July 7, 2008 and American Libraries Direct, July 2, 2008
3i. Wisconsin Council on Children and Family Offers Adolescent Brain Training Workshops
The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families if offering "Unlocking the Mysteries 2008:
Adolescent Brain Development" on August 21-22, 2008 in Eau Claire. This is one in a series of training sessions that the Council is offering. This two-day training summarizes the latest research on adolescent brain development and popular trends affecting adolescent programming and treatment.
Both days of the training will begin at 9am with the first day ending at 4pm and the second day ending at 3pm. The training will be held at Holiday Inn Campus Area, 2703 Craig Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701.
The cost is $130 for the training which covers materials, meeting space, and lunch for both days. The curriculum is waiting approval for CEU credits. For more information contact MaryAdele Revoy by telephone: (608) 284-0580, ext. 328 or email at mrevoy@wccf.org
4. Grants and Scholarships
4a. Libri Foundation Grants
The Libri Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2008 Book for Children grants. The next deadline for applications is August 15. The foundation has three application deadlines each year, so if you miss this one, applications are also accepted April 15th and January 15, 2009. The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children's books to small, rural public libraries throughout the United States. Since October 1990, the Foundation has donated over $3,500,000 worth of new children's books to more than 2,600 libraries in 48 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
In order to encourage and reward local support of libraries, the Libri Foundation will match any amount of money raised by local sponsors from $50 to $350 on a 2-to-1 ratio. Thus, a library can receive up to $1,050 worth of new children's books. After a library receives a grant, local sponsors (such as formal or informal Friends groups, civic or social organizations, local businesses, etc.) have four months (or longer if necessary) to raise their matching funds.
The librarian of each participating library selects the books the library will receive from a booklist provided by the Foundation. The 700-plus fiction and nonfiction titles on the booklist reflect the very best of children's literature published primarily in the last three years. These titles, which are for children ages 12 and under, are award-winners or have received starred reviews in library, literary, or education journals. The booklist also includes a selection of classic children's titles.
Libraries are qualified on an individual basis. In general, county libraries should serve a population under 16,000 and town libraries should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000) Libraries should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an active children's department. Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a city with a population over 40,000. Libraries with total operating budgets over $150,000 and county libraries with total operating budgets over $350,000 are rarely given grants.
A school library may apply only if it also serves as the public library (i.e. it is open to everyone in the community, has some summer hours, and there is no public library in town) A branch library may apply if the community it is in meets the definition of rural. If the branch library receives its funding from its parent institution, then the parent institution's total operating budget, not just the branch library's total operating budget, must meet the budget guidelines.
Previous Books for Children grant recipients are eligible to apply for another grant three years after the receipt of their last grant. Libraries that do not fulfill all grant requirements, including the final report, may not apply for another grant. Grants will be awarded April 30th and August 31st. Application guidelines and forms may be downloaded from the Foundation's website at http://www.librifoundation.org.
For more information about The Libri Foundation or its Books for Children program, please contact Ms. Barbara J. McKillip, President, The Libri Foundation, P.O. Box 10246, Eugene, OR 97440; 541-747-9655 (phone); 541-747-4348 (fax); libri@librifoundation.org (email). Normal office hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Time.
4b. Dollar General Literacy Grants
Libraries within 20 miles of a Dollar General store may be eligible for a literacy grant through the Dollar General store chain. For information about the literacy grants go to www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1794. There are two categories, one is for family literacy and the other is for youth literacy for students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. The deadline will be in March 2009.
4c. WLA Library Continuing Education Scholarships
George Bauer Continuing Education Scholarship ($800)
Available to a person employed in a library in Wisconsin, or someone who works with library employees in those communities, to attend a conference or other continuing education program within or outside Wisconsin.
Gloria Hoegh Scholarship for Rural Librarians ($1,050)
Available to a person employed in a library in a Wisconsin community with a population of 5,000 or less, or someone who works with library employees in those communities, to attend a conference or other continuing education program within or outside Wisconsin.
Library Education Scholarship ($1,300)
Available to a current or permanent Wisconsin resident admitted to a master's degree program in library and information science or in library media at a Wisconsin school as a part- or full-time student.
Diversity Scholarship ($1,200)
Available to a current or permanent Wisconsin resident admitted to a master's degree program in library and information science or in library media at a Wisconsin school as a part- or full-time student and who is African- American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, of Native American/Alaskan Native descent, or physically challenged.
Sally Davis Scholarship ($1,250)
Available to a current or permanent Wisconsin resident admitted to the master's degree program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison SLIS as a part- or full-time student.
Vida Cummins Stanton ($1,400)
Available to a current or permanent Wisconsin resident admitted to the master's degree program at the UW- Milwaukee SOIS as a part- or full-time student pursuing a library media or youth services program.
--from Peg Branson, Chair, WLA Foundation Scholarships Committee
4d. 2009 National Library Week Grant
Libraries across the United States are invited to apply for the $3,000 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant, which will be awarded to a single library for the best public awareness campaign incorporating the 2009 National Library Week theme, "Worlds connect @ your library®."
The grant is sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing, and is administered by the Public Awareness Committee of the American Library Association (ALA). This year's application deadline is October 17, 2008. National Library Week is April 12-18, 2009.
All proposals must use the "Worlds connect @ your library" theme, which incorporates The Campaign for America's Libraries' "@ your library" brand, on any and all promotional and publicity material supporting National Library Week activities.
A grant application form and guidelines are available on The Campaign for America's Libraries Web site at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary/nlwgrant. Information also is available from the ALA Public Information Office, telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 2148 or E-mail: mmcfarlane@ala.org.
4e. Disney Minnie Grants
Youth Service America and Disney are pleased to launch a second round of Disney Minnie Grants to engage children and youth, ages 5-14 as community volunteers. The selected applications will receive $500 to support their youth-led service projects. The deadline is August 30 and projects must take place October 15-November 15, 2008. Grantees from the first round of Disney awards of 2008 are eligible to apply. Visit www.YSA.org/awards for more information and application materials. You can review past award recipients from all over the world at: http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/DisneyMinnieGrants/DisneyMinnieGrantees2008/tabid/292/Default.aspx
--from Rhonda Puntney's June 25, 2008 CEO posting for librarians in Lakeshores/Mid-Wisconsin Library Systems
4f. Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Grants
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, Inc. annually awards grants for purchasing books published for young people preschool to grade 12. Public libraries, school libraries, and 501(c) (3) agencies are eligible. The Foundation gives priority to institutions that serve at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. Grants typically range from $500 to $3000 and are specifically for book purchases rather than administrative or operational uses. Information about the grant and a grant application form are available at: http://www.loislenskicovey.org/
The 2008 grant deadline is September 15. --from a posting by Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System
4g. Barbara Bush Foundation Family Literacy Grants
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy's National Grant Program's goal is to develop and expand family literacy efforts, and to support the development of literacy programs that build families of readers. The program provides grants for projects that support the development of literacy skills for adult primary care givers and their children. Eligible instructional literacy programs must have been in existence at least two years and include one or more of the following components: literacy for adults, parent education, literacy or pre-literacy instruction for children pre-K to grade 3, and intergenerational literacy activities. A total of $650,000 will be awarded for grants of up to $65,000. The application deadline is September 5, 2008. Application guidelines and grant program details are available on the Foundation's website at www.barbarabushfoundation.com/nga.html.
5. Kid!@Your Library Promotion Adds Updates
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announces the latest updates to its Kids! @ your library® public awareness campaign. The latest additions to the campaign's online tool kit include: The Library Dragon readers theater script; line art adapted from children's illustrator Michael P. White's Kids! Campaign artwork; a bibliography of books about kids and libraries; a list of songs for kids about reading and libraries; a Dr. Seuss-themed hidden treasure puzzle; and a Dr. Seuss mad lib game. They are all free to download from www.ala.org/kids and use in your library and community.
ALSC has teamed up with JanWay and Kidstamps to make Kids! Campaign art available to librarians on temporary tattoos and rubber stamps. For information about tattoos, contact JanWay at 1 (800) 877-5242. Mention ALSC's customer number (26981). You will not be charged a set-up fee; it has already been paid by ALSC. For information on rubber stamps, contact Kidstamps at: www.kidstamps.com or 1 (800) 727-5437. There is no set-up charge.
ALSC is offering ten $100 cash prizes to libraries for the best use of Kids! Campaign materials. Contest details are posted at www.ala.org/ala/alsc/contest. Entries are due on Oct. 15, and winners will be announced at the 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting. For more information about the Kids! @ your library® Campaign and to check out all the free tool kit materials available, visit www.ala.org/kids and click on the tool kit link.
--from American Libraries Direct, June 25, 2008
6. Tasha Tudor Dies
Legendary author and illustrator Tasha Tudor died June 18 at her Vermont home. She was 92. A family statement on her website http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/news.html said, "We thank you for supporting Tasha Tudor's lifestyle and artwork during her long career. We hope that Tasha's message of 'taking joy' in all that one does will be remembered as we pass through this difficult time together."
The Brattleboro Reformer reported that after her first story, Pumpkin Moonshine, was published in 1938, "she illustrated nearly 100 books, the most recent being The Corgiville Christmas, in 2003. She had received many awards and honors, including Caldecott Honors for Mother Goose and 1 is One. Many of her books are printed in foreign languages and distributed around the world." In today's New York Times, her obituary quotes a Times piece from 1941 that said her pictures "have the same fragile beauty of early spring evenings."
--from Rhonda Puntney's June 18th edition of CEO, an electronic posting for Lakeshores and Mid-Wisconsin Library Systemms
7. Libraries and Autism: We're Connected Video
The Fanwood Memorial Library and the Scotch Plains Public Library, both in New Jersey, have shared a customer service training video to help library staff serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively and inclusively. The video focuses on what librarians need to know about autism spectrum disorder and empowers the viewer with specific techniques to offer more inclusive and comprehensive customer service when interacting with this growing and underserved population.
As the project evolved, it became clear a website would be the best way to share and disseminate the depth and variety of valuable information and tools that were created. One goal was to create a replicable model and as such, all libraries and other organizations are encouraged to explore the site www.thejointlibrary.org/autism, watch the video and make free use of all of the support resources available there. Librarians are asked to let the New Jersey libraries know if the video was useful by completing a survey.
The video was created by the two libraries as a part of the "Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community and Their Families" incubator project, which was made possible by a contract with Infolink: The Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative. The Cooperative and its services are funded by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network. This was one of six successful projects funded to meet the strategic need for libraries to provide services in proactive and creative ways to children and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.
For more information about this project and to receive a free "Libraries and Autism: We're Connected" decal for the library, please contact the libraries at autism@thejointlibrary.org
--from a posting by Rhonda K. Puntney, Lakeshores Library System
8. Highlights of the New Scholastic Reading Survey
A new study funded by Scholastic was released in June 2008. Results indicate 75% of kids age 5-17 agree with the statement, "No matter what I can do online, I'll always want to read books printed on paper," and 62% of kids surveyed say they prefer to read books printed on paper rather than on a computer or a handheld device. The Kids & Family Reading Report ™, a national survey of children age 5-17 and their parents, also found that kids who go online to extend the reading experience - by going to book or author websites or connecting with other readers - are more likely to read books for fun every day.
The study also found tweens and teens who participate in online activities are more likely to read books for fun on a daily basis. The "2008 Kids & Family Reading Report," is a follow up to a similar 2006 study, both of which were conducted by Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, and TSC, a division of Yankelovich, a leader in consumer trends research. Results again indicate that the time kids spend reading books for fun declines after age eight and continues to drop off through the teen years. Kids ages 5-17 believe technology will supplement, not replace, book reading and say they will always want to read books printed on paper. For more information about the report go to www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/news/readingreport.htm.
9. Dog Days of Summer
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the forty days between July 3 and August 11th are known as the "Dog Days of Summer" in the northern hemisphere. At one time people thought the star Sirus, which is overhead during these days, was responsible for the increase in temperature. This is thought to be the origin of the name "Dog Days."
10. Monthly Postings are Archived on the Youth Services Web Page
The 2008 monthly postings for the system youth services liaisons will be archieved on the DLTCL Youth Services Web page at www.dpi.wi.gov/pld/ys-postings.html.
11. Upcoming Events in 2008
The listing of Upcoming Events is posted on the archive page at www.dpi.wi.gov/pld/yspost-events.html
The list of upcoming events will be updated each month. This change is intended to reduce the length of this monthly posting.
An attempt has been made to verify each of these dates and URLs. If errors are noticed, assistance in making corrections is very much appreciated. The dates are updated on a monthly basis.
Return to the System Youth Services Liaison Postings home page.
For questions about this information, contact Jamie McCanless (608) 267-9280
Last updated on 3/17/2009 12:49:56 PM
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