Summer is around the corner, and so is another season of library summer reading programs. Same thing, different year. Another cute-kids-amused-at-the-library, slow-news-day photo op.

But wait! It doesn't have to be that way! Why? Because summer library programs are important to kids, families, schools, and employers. Based on very real educational and social skill-building techniques, summer reading activities meet a serious need and have a long-term impact on kids' development, their learning skills, and our local, regional and national economic strength.

Kids who don't read during the summer can lose up to a grade level of reading ability, putting them behind when school starts. Nearly half our children never catch up, facing a lifelong loss of income, decreased productivity, and increased need for public assistance.

Kids who DO read for fun in the summer maintain and build their reading skills, engage their curiosity, learn to cooperate with others, and develop a lifelong habit of learning.

Even very young children -- far too young for pre-school -- develop crucial learning skills from library pre-literacy activities that build brain power for life, setting neurological pathways that make reading easier to master.

Furthermore, free library programs are a great way to spend time with the family, and get a new infusion of books, DVDs and magazines to interest everyone in the household.

This summer, all libraries in the Puget Sound region are using the same program theme: Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds. And even with all that serious learning, there will be lots of cute kids having fun at the library, and just as many photo ops. So buckle your swash and check out what's happening this summer at the library.

Starting June 1, details about the King County Library System's summer learning programs will be available on the KCLS Web pages, www.kcls.org.

Meanwhile, and for information and help in developing an exclusive feature, contact Marsha Iverson at the King County Library System, miverson@kcls.org. 425-369-3277.

Source: King Country Library System

CONTACT: Marsha Iverson, Public Relations Specialist of King County
Library System, +1-425-369-3277, or miverson@kcls.org

Web site: http://www.kcls.org/