Carmine

With several libraries closing all across the United States and many people living in rural areas that are either far from libraries or don't have the funds to do much, you can be the person to make a big difference in your town! Start a summer reading program at your church, a business, or even your home. Below are steps you can take to kick off a local summer reading program.

• Check for interest. Chances are that you will find interested children and parents if you simply invite them. But, if you aren't sure, ask local librarians, teachers, children, and parents before you start planning. Send out surveys if you wish.

• Set dates and choose a theme or certain books for discussion. Decide if you want to encourage them to read a lot by rewarding them, or if this is more a book discussion group. Or, do both! Set up different activities and book lists for each age. Decide when it will start and when it will end (six to eight weeks is long enough for most summer readers.) Plan now, before you advertise.

• Choose a meeting place. You could meet at the library, a church, or a local business with a big enough room. Get permission ahead of time, and be sure to thank the business on all the advertising materials.

• Get sponsors. Contact businesses and tell them your plans. See if they will offer something to your program: monetary donations, products, meeting space, etc. Note donors on your advertisements. Send them each a thank you note when you are finished, so they know how successful the program was.

• Solicit volunteers. Chances are there are a few parents, teachers, or librarians out there who wouldn't mind helping out a little. Put them to work passing out flyers, making reading logs if you are rewarding the amount kids read, checking the kids' reading logs, collecting products from sponsors, etc. Don't do everything on your own, or you might not be up to doing it again next year.

• Invite the readers! Design, print, and copy flyers. Give them to every school, church, youth organization, home school organization, and library within a reasonable distance.

Get ready! You will soon have a flood of young readers ready for your summer reading program. Be original and offer them something they can't get locally. The children and their parents will thank you for putting the effort into such a worthwhile program.

Visit Stephenie's site http://www.faith-filled.com for more tips on parenting and teaching.