Library aims to combat summer learning loss

CLAYTON — With the school year over, Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library encourages children, teens and adults to keep their minds active and engaged.

The library’s 2024 Summer Reading Challenge, which runs through July 31, has interactive elements for the entire family.

This year’s theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” Participants start their adventure by registering. From there, they track their progress online, logging their reading minutes and earning digital badges for milestones and virtual raffle tickets toward prizes.

“Combating learning loss during summer months is critical,” said Children’s Librarian Grace Davis. “The long break over the summer can result in backsliding academically. Summer Reading’s goal is to encourage children and families to read and maintain, if not bolster, literacy skills over the summer.”

Every age group can explore different literary quests. Here are a few that participants can use to fuel their summer adventures:

• Attend one of the more than 50 public programs the library is offering this summer, like N.C. Symphony Appreciation and ecoExplore Bugs.

• Join a variety of reading challenges by visiting ClaytonLibraryNC.org/SRC24.

• Explore the library’s physical and digital collections, complete with reading materials, board games and activity kits.

The Clayton Clovers are getting in on the fun with Home Run Readers. The top five readers from the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge will receive special recognition, tickets to the baseball game on July 18 and some back-to-school prizes.

“We want to make learning fun,” Davis said. “By having materials easily and readily available, we can make going to the library an adventure. Kids can pick out materials that are of interest to them, and we’re always here to help or offer suggestions.”

Davis added that the adventure extends beyond the walls of the library. While on vacation, cardholders can take photos of their library card in different travel spots and share them on the library’s Facebook page.

Last year, more than 600 people registered for the Summer Reading Challenge, checking out nearly 20,500 items and logging almost 108,000 reading minutes.

Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is at 100 S. Church St. in Clayton.

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