Dig into Reading – Many Options for School Age Children to Read this Summer  

The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System will have plenty of free programs and activities this summer to encourage children of all ages to read. During a media announcement this morning, plans for “Dig into Reading” were unveiled. The Library’s Summer Reading 2013 initiative is geared toward school-age children and their families, offering a combination of fun and exciting programs, incentives, and a variety of special events to encourage reading during the summer months. Statistics show that summer reading programs enable young people to maintain educational advances when not in school. 

 Library Director Mary Jean Jakubowski said, “The welcome sign is out at all 37 Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries-- from interesting book clubs to entertainers to reading logs, school age children can stay ahead of the curve by spending quality time at the Library - and best of all – everything is free.”  Students from Buffalo’s Enterprise Charter School and Bennett Park Montessori PS#32 were on hand for the announcement which featured songs about books and reading by local performers The Hill Brothers.  

Locally, last summer, 40,934 young people participated in the Library System’s free Summer Reading initiatives, reading 12,000 books, totaling more than 1 million minutes of reading right here in our community. Those numbers are expected to increase this summer through new partnerships and enhanced marketing. 2012 saw 1.65 million children participating in their libraries Summer Reading programs across New York State. 

Highlights of this year’s Dig into Reading initiative include:  

By reading, children can earn complimentary tickets to Holland Speedway for “Library Night at the Races” scheduled for August 10.  

 Read Down Your Fines gives children ages 16 and under an opportunity to read off overdue library fines. For every 15 minutes of reading, a child can earn a library buck toward reducing or eliminating overdue fines. All local libraries will be running the program through September 7.  

 Battle of the Books takes place on Saturday, August 3. This popular summertime team trivia competition is for youth entering grades six through nine. There are currently 31 teams from local libraries who are all reading the same books as they prepare for trivia questions about those books while vying for the coveted Battle title and trophy.  Last year, Marilla Free Library took the gold medal against 32 teams in a fast-paced lightning round before 500 fans.  

 Every Wednesday, the Library will be stationed at Canalside for Dig into Reading storytelling and craft programs from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00p.m. from July 3 – August 28.

Free library cards are available in all libraries and applications can be downloaded from www.BuffaloLib.org. Parents or guardians with identification must accompany the child to obtain a card. 

 For more information about Summer Reading activities, visit your neighborhood Buffalo & Erie County Public Library or go to the website at http://www.buffalolib.org/   Friend the Library on Facebook at:   https://www.facebook.com/buffalolibrary.central?ref=ts .