{"id":11819,"date":"2015-11-17T00:01:53","date_gmt":"2015-11-17T05:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=11819"},"modified":"2015-11-18T11:29:33","modified_gmt":"2015-11-18T16:29:33","slug":"survey-on-summer-reading-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2015\/11\/survey-on-summer-reading-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"Survey on Summer Reading Trends"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer reading. We all do it! We all spend so much energy, creativity, resources, and sanity on this one extraordinary time of year to promote the joy of reading and learning in our communities and to combat the summer slide. As we wrapped up summer reading this year my team and I were wondering about what other libraries were up to during this crazy busy season. We sent out a survey and 59 libraries responded. Here is what they had to say.<\/p>\n

To Theme or not to Theme?<\/strong><\/p>\n

37.5% of respondents use the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)<\/a> theme for summer reading, 18.75% use the iRead theme, 18.75% selected \u201cother,\u201d 12.5% create their own themes and 12.5% don\u2019t use a theme at all. One Canadian respondent uses the TD summer reading club site (http:\/\/www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n

When does summer start?<\/strong><\/p>\n

13.33% start registration on the last day of school for their district, 13.33% start on the Monday after the last day of school, 26.67% of our respondents catch em\u2019 before school ends, and 46.67% selected \u201cother\u201d with the most common response being June 1st.<\/p>\n

How many weeks of programming do you offer in the summer session?<\/strong><\/p>\n

40% of respondents offer 8 weeks of programming in the summer session and 6.67% offer 6 weeks, but several noted in the comments field that they offer 9 weeks, and there were a few stalwart souls who offer 11 or 12 weeks.<\/p>\n

\"Pete<\/a>
Pete the Cat storytime (Photo courtesy guest blogger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Can participants log reading for a longer period of time than you offer summer classes and events?<\/strong><\/p>\n

46.67% of respondents said yes, while 53.33% end it all at the same time. Several libraries commented that they extend logging for a week or so after programming ends.<\/p>\n

Do you require a library card for participants to\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only one library required a card for participants to log reading and\/or activities. Two respondents require library cards for participants to attend high demand programs, classes or events. 80% of respondents do not require a card to log reading or attend programs.<\/p>\n

What do you track?<\/strong><\/p>\n

78.57% track time spent reading or listening to books and 35.71% track titles read. None of our respondents track pages read. 42.86% also track learning activities, challenges, or anything other than reading. In our library, we decided to track learning activities in addition to reading because we wanted to recognize and encourage the learning taking place around our city all summer long. Several respondents commented that they track early literacy activities for pre-readers. One library shared that they have a Summer STEM program with this great quote: \u201cStudents do five STEM explorations to get a science themed prize. The goal this year was for kids to recognize that many of the activities they already enjoy, like playing with LEGO blocks or catching hermit crabs, are STEM related, and that science isn\u2019t just something you do in a classroom.\u201d Several respondents commented that they give credit for program attendance and bonus activities completed that are tied to their themes or that encourage participants to check out library resources like STEM kits, e-books or audiobooks.<\/p>\n

Do you set a reading goal for participants, or can they choose their own goal?<\/strong><\/p>\n

64.29% set a reading goal for participants and 35.71% have participants choose their own goals. Set goals included amounts of time like 600 minutes of reading for all age groups, 5 hours or 30 minutes each day.<\/p>\n

One library commented that they set a goal of 3000 books to be read by all of their participants. They did not set individual goals. \u201cSome kids read 1 book, while others read 30. The kids smashed the goal with a final total of 3621.\u201d Another library noted that participants can read more than the set goal, but additional prizes are not awarded. A respondent said that they ask students to read 2.5 hours as a goal, but participants can complete the goal as many times as they\u2019d like over whatever time period they\u2019d like. A library that encourages participants to set their own goals commented that the \u201cparticipants decide how many books they would like to read (or listen to, if they\u2019re not yet reading) during the summer months. We don\u2019t hold customers to their goal-if a child sets their goal too high and doesn\u2019t reach it, they can still claim their participation prize.\u201d Another library stated that \u201cin special circumstances, individuals that feel they need to set higher or lower goals for themselves are allowed to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you offer summer reading online, what do you think of the software product you are using?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There appears to be some frustration out there about online summer reading options. Several libraries mentioned wanting more customization, family registration options, a less cumbersome registration process, simpler logging procedures or a more user friendly product. Positive comments on summer reading software included liking the online compilation of statistics and helpful support staff. Several libraries mentioned that they are looking for new software products for summer reading for next year.<\/p>\n

If you offer an online summer reading program, do you also offer a paper logging option?<\/strong><\/p>\n

61.54% answered yes and 30.77% only offer logging online.<\/p>\n

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! What prizes can participants earn?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Books were the most commonly mentioned prize with 87.10% of our respondents and entries to grand prize drawings followed at 77.42%. 74.19% use coupons donated by local businesses as prizes. Virtual badges and abandoning prizes all together were not popular choices for our respondents, although one respondent commented that \u201cI would like to go prize-free, or do prizes that are a logical extension of the behaviors we want to encourage (like books, entry into events).\u201d Another library shared that \u201cthis year for the first time one of the prize choices was to staple a ticket to the bulletin board. Each ticket represented \u2018a donation\u2019 (kept purposely vague because this was the first year and we didn\u2019t know what the response would be) to a local charity. This was especially popular with the older students.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you offer grand prizes, what are they?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Libraries gave away some amazing grand prizes this summer including museum memberships, tickets to Broadway shows, Kindle Fires, book store gift cards, sets of books, STEM activity backpacks, Story Time backpacks, gift baskets or prize packs with donations from area businesses, a 3D doodler pen, a Spin Bot, lunch with a Hero, a ride in toy car, a doll with accessories, a guitar with an amplifier, iPads, experiences like a disco party or stadium tour, and birthday parties or family memberships from the city\u2019s athletic center.<\/p>\n

If you offer virtual badges, what can participants do with them after they earn them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The few responses we got on this question were evenly divided between sharing them on social media, displaying them on a certificate, and earning a prize or grand prize entry for completing a certain number of virtual badges. One library commented that the goal of virtual badges is to keep track of what you\u2019ve learned. Another library participates in a City of Learning program. Virtual badges are earned in conjunction with that program. Library staff submit their participation to the site, it emails them telling them that they earned a badge and how to claim it. The badges live on the City of Learning site.<\/p>\n

Do you offer a grace period for prize pick up after your program ends?<\/strong><\/p>\n

59.38% answered yes, we continue handing out prizes for a little while after the official end date. One library hands out prizes until they run out or participants stop asking for them. 31.25% have a firm end date. None of our respondents offer online prizes that participants can print out on their own. One library noted that they like to have a grace period when possible, especially for groups.<\/p>\n

What was your most successful summer program, class or event this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n

At our library, Pete the Cat\u2019s visits to our 3-5\u2019s story time classes were a huge hit. We saw a massive demand for our smaller hands-on learning STEM classes for our elementary kids, and our Teen Tech It and Take It events were very well attended. For our respondents, performers, especially those that featured animals, were frequently mentioned. One library had a very successful \u201cSuper Hero Boot Camp.\u201d Another library offered a tween program called \u201cLeague of Heroes Unite\u201d in which participants got to create their own superhero personas, hunt evil villains, and dispatch them with water balloons. A weekly \u201cLego Lab\u201d was very popular as was a \u201cCupcake Wars\u201d program. A \u201cCowboy Round-Up\u201d included cowboy crafts and pony rides. One library offered a maker space that was packed every hour that it was open. Other successful events included a Frozen Sing Along, Minecraft programs, puppet shows, music and movement story times, a ladybug release, a STEAM camp for 3-5th graders that met once a week for 4 weeks, a Star Wars celebration, and a Teen Anime Con. One library mentioned that although their book clubs had smaller attendance, they received great feedback from these participants.<\/p>\n

Any lessons learned from less successful summer classes or events?<\/strong><\/p>\n