THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY V. BROWN, BISHOP, BROWNLEE, PAYTON, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, JAMES, KIRKLAND, WATERS, ROEBUCK, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, KAVULICH, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MIRABITO, O'NEILL, READSHAW, ROCK, CULVER, SONNEY, SWANGER, D. COSTA, YOUNGBLOOD AND SAYLOR, JUNE 11, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 11, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the months of June, July and August 2012 as "Summer

Reading Games 2012" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Libraries throughout this Commonwealth contribute to

the intellectual growth of children and teens during the summer

through reading programs. According to the American Library

Association, summer reading programs began in the 1890s as a way

to encourage school children, particularly those in urban areas

who were not needed for farm work, to read during summer

vacation, use the library and develop a habit of reading; and

WHEREAS, Summer reading programs attract children and teens

to libraries where they can participate in reading and cultural

activities. Children and teens benefit from summer programs that

combine elements of youth development principles with academic

enrichment; and

WHEREAS, Visiting local libraries provides children with

access to unlimited amounts of reading materials; and

WHEREAS, Studies done by researchers at Johns Hopkins

University in Baltimore show that disadvantaged youth fall

significantly behind other students because of a lack of access

to reading materials and a loss of encouragement in the home and

elsewhere to participate in any reading. Such a drop off of

reading outside of the school year results in achievement gaps

not only in school, but also later in life. Communities that

offer summer reading encourage youth to develop reading as a

lifelong habit, draw in reluctant readers through activities,

help ensure children, particularly those in disadvantaged homes,

to read over the summer to maintain and increase reading skills

and generate interest in free public libraries and the services

they offer; and

WHEREAS, Schools and public librarians throughout this

Commonwealth and the nation have cooperatively produced summer

reading lists to enhance both learning and recreation. Library

officials in Pennsylvania have worked with their counterparts

from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and

the Mariana Islands through the Collaborative Summer Library

Program (CSLP) to provide high-quality summer reading program

materials for children at the lowest cost possible for their

public libraries. The CSLP annually establishes themes for

summer reading. This year's themes are "Dream Big - Read" for

children, "Own the Night" for teens and "Between the Covers" for

adults; and

WHEREAS, Support of summer reading programs give all library

users an opportunity to become lifelong readers and learners by

visiting the library frequently. In fact, the Johns Hopkins

University and other studies have shown that those who increase

their reading have greater success in school and in the job

market, while those who have difficulty with reading may have a

greater risk of failing in the job field and turning to crime;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

months of June, July and August 2012 as "Summer Reading Games

2012" in Pennsylvania to encourage all children and teens in

this Commonwealth to participate in all summer library reading

programs and to compete in games and other competitions

established by the libraries and other groups to increase summer

reading; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize all

libraries in Pennsylvania for the summer reading programs that

they offer and urge all State lawmakers, parents and community

leaders to assist, fully support and otherwise get involved in

such programs to promote lifelong reading at home and elsewhere

by children, youths and adults.