Reading Rules!
WRITTEN BY TRACI GLASS
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, LINCOLN CITY LIBRARIES
At Lincoln City Libraries (LCL), we are proud to offer a wealth of opportunities, experiences, and materials for everyone in the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County. We have everything from books, to crafting programs, to Dungeons and Dragons tournaments and tech help. Your local public library serves a wide range of tastes and interests in a never-ending effort to fully represent and reach all members of the community.
Across the country, public libraries are serving patrons of all ages, to ensure that their creative and inquisitive spirits are fulfilled and inspired on the daily. Where would folks discover their absolute new favorite book
or movie? Where would teens get together for snacks and chats? Where would kiddos spend their mornings hearing stories about pigeons trying to drive buses, singing songs, and then playing alongside their friends? All of this and more happens at a public library, and we will always continue to grow to ensure the equitable and inclusive representation of all who enter our doors.
As a former youth and teen librarian, Youth Services offered at public libraries have always held a special place in my heart. Public libraries provide kids and teens the place to develop and discover new interests and favorite things, and meet other people their age from all corners of the city and county. They also provide safe, welcoming spaces where kids and teens can be themselves.
Summer Reading Challenge
I can’t talk about Youth Services without talking about LCL Summer Reading Challenge! Each year, we join public libraries from across the country to celebrate reading, summer sun and fun, and lifelong learning. Summer Reading Challenges are well known for being exciting, engaging ways for public libraries to stay
first and foremost in the community’s mind during the summer months. Did you know that participation in a Summer Reading Challenge can also help avoid that summer learning loss? Studies show that students who participate in public library summer reading programs scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year than those who did not participate.
Plus, parents of youth enrolled in the public library summer reading program reported that their children spent more time reading over the summer, were better prepared for school in the fall, and read more confidently. All that and fun, too – here at Lincoln City Libraries, we are happy to oblige both!
Storytimes
Mornings at Lincoln City Libraries always start off with our storytimes! Preschoolers, toddlers, tinies, babies, and families all have their own unique opportunity to join an age-appropriate program to hear stories, learn fingerplays,
sing songs, and learn how to read. That’s right! Storytimes are designed to actually help pre- readers on the path toward literacy!
Library storytellers are well-trained in the “Every Child Ready to Read at your Library” curriculum, including the super exciting and critical five practices of early literacy development: Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, and Playing. The “Every Child” practice is really to help parents and caregivers be better able to help support their child in developing literacy in their homes.
Previously, storytimes were maybe just a story or two and were not traditionally structured to support both caregiver and child. By modeling the behavior to use at home, the effect of storytimes can be achieved anytime the child and caregiver are together and not just in the physical library.
Fun for All Ages
At Lincoln City Libraries, we entertain kids and teens all year long with engaging programming such as magic from Jeff Quinn, Kokyo Taiko drumming, visits from alpacas, and teen trivia. We also partner with
Lincoln Public Schools to provide each school-aged child a “Library OneCard” for use at any LCL
branch. We are happy
to provide our youth community members with the ability to connect with old and new friends alike, grow the power of reading or listening, and inspire new talents and interests in a fun and accessible environment.
In 2023, Lincoln City Libraries was proud to see that 17,171 community members registered for our Summer Reading Challenge, with over half of the registered participants being kids and teens. Be sure to keep an eye out for our 2024 Summer Reading Challenge, “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” and keep visiting us every day at your favorite branch!
Learn more at lincolnlibraries.org.