Do you have a plan to make sure your child has lots of reading opportunities this summer? Several studies have documented a “summer slide” in reading skills once kids go on summer vacation… and the loss compounds each year.
Research offers a surprisingly simple and affordable solution: Bring your youngsters to the library and let them choose their own books.
In a three-year study, researchers at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville found that simply giving children access to books – and allowing them to choose books that interested them – had a significant effect on the summer reading gap.
Children who chose their own books and those who were given activity and puzzle books were tracked for three years. Those who could select their own books posted significantly higher test scores than the children who received books from others. The effect was equivalent to a child attending three years of summer school. And the difference in scores was twice as high among the poorest children in the study.
Another of the notable findings of the study was that children improved their reading scores even though they typically weren’t selecting the curriculum books or classics that teachers normally assign for summer reading. That conclusion confirms other studies suggesting that children learn best when they are allowed to select their own books.
Bottom line: What should your children read this summer? Being them to the library and let them decide for themselves, because any books will do!
Library closure
Your library will be closed July 4 for the holiday. Watch for us in the July 4 parade!
Friends book sale
Save the dates of July 11 – 13 for the Friends of the Library annual book sale at the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis Street. Early bird sales and a potluck for Friends members only is Thursday evening from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The general public is welcome Friday from 9 – 3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. – noon. This book sale offers you great bargains and benefits your library by raising funds for much needed projects, programs and services.
Summer Reading Program underway
“Adventure Begins at your Library!” is the theme of this year’s free all-ages Summer Reading Program underway now. Choose your own adventure from the Smokey Bear reading challenge celebrating Smokey’s 80th birthday, a travel journal challenge where you document your experiences as you try new things and visit new places in the area, and a Camp Ruby Sisson bingo challenge that brings back our much-loved bingo sheets.
Prizes are available for all ages for each week of Summer Reading activities completed, and those results also put your name into a raffle for the grand prize at the concluding party on August 9, Smokey’s birthday. Sign up now in person or online and watch for details in this Library News column of all the fun free Summer Reading events coming your way.
Jane Austin 250th birthday series
Next Monday morning, July 1, from 10 a.m. to noon is the last event in the free five-week all ages series celebrating the 250th birthday of beloved English author Jane Austin. Call Jenny at 240-426-7887 for more information.
Music fun Monday
Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4-6 p.m. Monday, July 1 for amateur musicians who would like a safe, supportive, non-bar setting to play, sing or both with other people. For information contact Susan at 970-946-3396.
Teen Camp Half-blood on Wednesday
Wednesdays in July from 1 – 2:30 p.m. is our free Camp Half-blood for teens. It is based on the very popular Percy Jackson novels and will allow fans to participate in Escape Room- style activities centered around Greek myths, just like Percy Jackson. Each week teens will be presented with puzzles and STEM challenges like “Create a device that will locate and capture the bugs that escaped from Pandora’s box” or “Arachne left webs to help you find a way through a secret passage in the labyrinth.”
ESL classes
Free in-person evening classes take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with 4-5 p.m. reserved for beginners, 5-6 p.m. for intermediate and 6-7 p.m. for advanced students. Please help us pass the word about these classes.
Clases de inglés
Clases gratis de inglés cada martes y jueves. Principiantes de 4-5 p.m., intermedios de 5-6 p.m. y advanzados de 6-7 p.m. Ayudenos a informar a todos quienes necesitan aprender inglés.
Tech Time
Free in-person slots are available from 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 2-4 p.m. Thursdays. Judy helps with basic questions relating to computers, smartphones and tablets and also provides assistance in accessing the library’s online resources. No appointment is needed for these drop-in sessions, but please bring your device’s charger and passwords with you.
Books on CD
“Camino Ghosts” by John Grisham is a thriller read by Whoopi Goldberg. “You’ll Like It Darker” by Stephen King is a collection of 12 short stories that delve into the darker part of life. “Look on the Bright Side” by Kristin Higgins features a major life detour for the heroine.
Nonfiction
In “The Wild Truth” by Carine McCandless, his sister reveals the true story of her brother’s death in the Alaska wilderness. “Germany” is a Lonely Planet guide.
Large print
“Stuart Woods’ Smolder” by Brett Battles is a Stone Barrington adventure. “One Perfect Couple” by Ruth Ware is set in a reality show in a tropical paradise. “You Like It Darker” by Stephen King is a collection of four mysterious stories. “For The Love of Summer” by Susan Mallery features the growing friendship of two women who once were married to the same man.
Thrillers, mysteries and suspense
“One Deadly Eye” by Randy Wayne White is a Doc Ford thriller set in Florida after a Category Five hurricane. “The Last Twelve Miles” by Erika Robuck features two women on opposite sides of the law. “Knife River” by Justine Champine begins when a mother’s body is found 15 years after her disappearance.
Other novels
“The Passionate Tudor” by Alison Weir features Henry VIII’s daughter, infamously known as Bloody Mary. “For The Love of Summer” by Susan Mallery explores the growing friendship of two women who once were married to the same man. “The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye” by Briony Cameron tells of the adventurous life of a female pirate captain in the Caribbean.
Thanks to our donors
We are grateful to Joanne Ferko for her materials donations.
Quotable Quote
“To be an effective communicator you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room. You don’t have to get in the last word, or the most words, during a disagreement to change minds. In fact, that’s probably a bad strategy. The best communication offers both explanation and empathy and generates both understanding and curiosity…. Communication is about adapting your approach when needed, thinking hard about how your information or opinion might be received, and, at times, being fearless.” – From “Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House and the World,” a memoir by former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, available now at your library.
Website
For more information on library books, services and programs – and to reserve books, e-books, books on CD and DVDs from the comfort of your home – please visit our website at https://pagosalibrary.org.
The Ruby Sisson Memorial Library has been located at 811 San Juan Street (corner of S. 8th and Hwy 160) since 1989. The library is overseen by the Upper San Juan Library District, a tax-funded special district in Archuleta County.