Summer reading program

Summer reading programs take place at 95% of public libraries in the United States.¹ Children, teens, and adults participate in activities meant to encourage reading, such as keeping a reading log. Other names for summer reading programs include vacation reading club, summer reading club, vacation reading program, and summer library program.²

Summer reading programs at public libraries in the United States began no later than the 1890s.³ Early programs featured how to care for books, reading logs or lists, and focused on older kids and teens.³ By 1929, summer reading programs were sometimes themed.³ In the 1940s, professional publications began including prevention of summer reading loss as a goal of summer reading programs.³ As of 2014, 95% of public libraries in the United States offer a summer reading program.¹ Summer reading programs are common in Canada as well.⁴

Two thirds of public libraries host a summer reading program with a theme.⁵ Most summer reading programs offer books, coupons, or bookmarks as incentives for participating.⁵⁶⁷ Participants receive those incentives when they achieve a goal.⁶ Libraries commonly keep track of the number of participants, time spent reading, or number of books read.⁵