1Designating the months of June, July and August 2014 as "Summer
2Reading Games 2014" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Libraries throughout this Commonwealth contribute to
4the intellectual growth of children and teens during the summer
5through reading programs. According to the American Library
6Association, summer reading programs began in the 1890s as a way
7to encourage school children, particularly those in urban areas
8who were not needed for farm work, to read during summer
9vacation, use the library and develop a habit of reading; and

10WHEREAS, Summer reading programs attract children and teens
11to libraries where they can participate in reading and cultural
12activities. Children and teens benefit from summer programs that
13combine elements of youth development principles with academic
14enrichment; and

15WHEREAS, Visiting local libraries provides children with
16access to unlimited amounts of reading materials; and

1WHEREAS, Studies done by researchers at Johns Hopkins
2University in Baltimore show that disadvantaged youth fall
3significantly behind other students because of a lack of access
4to reading materials and a loss of encouragement in the home and
5elsewhere to participate in any reading. Such a drop off of
6reading outside of the school year results in achievement gaps
7not only in school, but also later in life. Communities that
8offer summer reading encourage youth to develop reading as a
9lifelong habit, draw in reluctant readers through activities,
10help ensure children, particularly those in disadvantaged homes,
11to read over the summer to maintain and increase reading skills
12and generate interest in free public libraries and the services
13they offer; and

14WHEREAS, Schools and public librarians throughout this
15Commonwealth and the nation have cooperatively produced summer
16reading lists to enhance both learning and recreation. Library
17officials in Pennsylvania have worked with their counterparts
18from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and
19the Mariana Islands through the Collaborative Summer Library
20Program (CSLP) to provide high-quality summer reading program
21materials for children at the lowest cost possible for their
22public libraries. The CSLP annually establishes themes for
23summer reading. This year's general theme is "Science" and the
24summer reading slogans are: "Fizz, Boom, Read!" for children,
25"Spark a Reaction" for teens and "Literary Elements" for adults;
26and

27WHEREAS, Support of summer reading programs give all library
28users an opportunity to become lifelong readers and learners by
29visiting the library frequently. In fact, the Johns Hopkins
30University and other studies have shown that those who increase

1their reading have greater success in school and in the job
2market, while those who have difficulty with reading may have a
3greater risk of failing in the job field and turning to crime;
4therefore be it

5RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
6months of June, July and August 2014 as "Summer Reading Games
72014" in Pennsylvania to encourage all children and teens in
8this Commonwealth to participate in all summer library reading
9programs and to compete in games and other competitions
10established by the libraries and other groups to increase summer
11reading; and be it further

12RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize all
13libraries in Pennsylvania for the summer reading programs that
14they offer and urge all State lawmakers, parents and community
15leaders to assist, fully support and otherwise get involved in
16such programs to promote lifelong reading at home and elsewhere
17by children, youths and adults.