Fiore's Summer Library Reading Program Handbook

by Carole D. Fiore

The long-awaited new guide to summer reading programs for children, teens, and families is here. Carole Fiore, who oversees Florida’s award-winning summer reading program, has created an expansive and up-to-date handbook for summer reading programs. You will learn how to set goals and objectives; establish themes and schedules; coordinate statewide and regional efforts; market and promote events; and evaluate program success. Up-to-date coverage addresses the No Child Left Behind Act, developmental assets, utilizing the Web, copyright concerns, bilingual programming, online activities, outcome-based evaluations, and more. Fiore also provides an A-Z annotated list of thematic programming ideas and a special illustrated section with twenty-five exemplary programs and numerous best practices from libraries across the country. Special sections serve as a guide to themes and member libraries of statewide and regional cooperative summer programs. Filled with forms, checklists, and sample policies, this is a valuable, comprehensive tool—essential for anyone planning reading programs.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're just getting started, its your first SLP, or you know nothing about how to market/do outreach/handle prizes/scheduling programs/scheduling outreach/themes/themes by state/book awards, etc. This book literally covers it all, including the HOW TO, the time line, the interest sheets, the evaluation/feedback, etc. It's all there!

[Jerry]

review text for 3374

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive guide to summer reading programs in libraries. Part I starts out with a history of summer reading and then the statistics/pros/cons of the program. Part II-IV focuses on the actual programming aspect, from the planning and development stages, to organizing and promoting, and finally design and evaluation. Each section of the book features recommended reading, which is very useful for beginner librarians. She even highlights 25 individual libraries' summer reading programs from across the US as examples of the kinds of things librarians could do for the program. I'm glad she had sections on how to include teens and children with disabilities, in your summer reading program, as I think these are groups could be commonly left out.

I liked the idea of maintaining a database to inform teachers of the students who participated; using a record log which counts number of minutes read for readers that are slow readers instead of number of books read; having "booknics" which are book picnics where the children can eat in the library while the librarian booktalks, then the child would recommend books or discuss what they have read, and then book-related games would take place; and even incorporating a cook-off where all users (children, teen and adults) would bring in a favorite food with recipe, then the recipes would be put in a cookbook and given to participants, as well as being sold in the community and added to the stacks.