Prevent “summer slide” with PPLD’s summer reading program

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean learning has to come to a pause. The Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is launching its annual summer reading program on Friday, May 31.

“I love how people that normally can’t come to the library during the school year because they’re so busy, now is their time to visit us in the summer,” Melody Alvarez, Pikes Peak Library District’s Director of Programming said.

The 2024 Summer Adventure presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado, will support literacy and education in the community. Research has shown that kids who participate in summer reading programs retain more of what they learned in the previous year. Summer reading programs help kids avoid this loss of progress, known as “summer slide” and help them get a better start to the new school year.

“We want to make sure that students are going back ready to start in the grade that they should be starting in and not having to refresh what they learned in the previous grade,” Alvarez said.

With the theme, “Go for Gold!” to recognize the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, PPLD’s Summer Adventure will kick off at all 15 library locations with special activities across Southern Colorado. To mark the major milestone of 50 years of summer reading programs, the library is inviting all ages to participate, welcoming adults for the first time.

“If you want children and teens to read, you got to be good role models as parents and caregivers,” Alvarez explained. “We really should be a city supporting literacy, so making sure that everyone in our city is reading and joining Summer Adventure, why not? It’s our 50th anniversary.”

Participants will log 30 days of reading and activities in June and July to complete their program and earn prizes. Activity examples include many forms of reading, attending library programming, crafting, trying a new recipe, and more.

Children between the ages of 0 and 18 who participate in the Summer Adventure program will earn a book when they register and will be eligible to earn another prize after completing the program. Adults over the age of 19 will receive an entry into the grand prize drawing at registration. The program runs from May 31 to July 31.

Throughout the summer, the library will offer special programming for all ages as part of Summer Adventure. The program will conclude with parties at East and Fountain libraries, as well as the annual summer concert series at Palmer Lake Library.

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