| Support Libraries | The Georgia Public Library Service provides resources and assistance to libraries that support youth learning and development. We coordinate the annual statewide Summer Reading Program that encourages children and families to read for fun during school vacations. Family literacy activities are highlighted and parents are encouraged to participate in the program with their children. Reading logs, game boards, bookmarks, posters and stickers are designed to help promote the program in each library facility in Georgia.
Youth Services provides assistance in all areas of library service, with particular expertise in children’s and teen services, planning, training and family literacy. Other areas of focus are funding opportunities and help with grants, the national PRIME TIME Family Reading Time Program, and maintaining a professional collection.
Contact:
Evan Michael Bush
Director, Youth Services
Phone: 470-707-7346
Email: ebush@georgialibraries.org
Summer Reading Program
We coordinate the annual statewide Summer Reading program that encourages children and families to read for fun during the summer months. Public libraries across the state promote summer reading by offering reading logs and prizes and by hosting activities such as storytimes, puppet shows, arts and crafts, and magic shows. Children who participate receive rewards for achieving reading goals.
RESOURCES
- Summer Learning Loss Research Brief
“One Step Forward, Three Steps Back: How Summer Learning Loss Is Widening the Achievement Gap” explores the impact of summer learning loss on children and offers recommendations for combating it. - Collaborative Summer Reading Program
The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is a nonprofit, charitable organization that supports literacy, education and science through summer reading events in public libraries across the United States. - Compiled Summer Reading Themes
Prime Time Family Reading Time – A Family Literacy Program
PRIME TIME, a unique six-week humanities-based program of reading, discussion and storytelling at public libraries and other venues, emphasizes the importance of families reading together to discuss significant cultural and ethical themes.
Created in 1991 by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, this statewide family literacy program with national affiliates creates a precondition for all future learning by empowering parents/guardians to help their children enjoy reading and improve their reading abilities. Since the early days of the PRIME TIME national expansion, Georgia has held almost 200 PRIME TIME programs in dozens of communities across the state.
PRIME TIME Georgia is supported in part by funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provision of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the University System of Georgia, with additional support from The Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College and Georgia Humanities.
To become a PRIME TIME site, please contact the director of Youth Services at eblack@georgialibraries.org
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING FINAL REPORTS
- The online reports can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate link.
- Final reports must be completed in a single sitting. You cannot start, save an incomplete report and return to the report at a later date.
- We recommend using the provided PDF (attached below) as a guide in completing the final report while your program is ongoing. Please keep a record of your final report response. Click the “PDF” button to view a printed sample of the online form.
PRIME TIME REPORTS and SURVEY LINKS
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- Families are considered “public library users”.
- The program is a Children, Teen, Family Program.
- PRIME TIME Family Reading Programs is the name.
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Teen Services
Teen services are gaining in popularity across the nation. There is a recognized need for providing services for teens after school and during the off school months. Georgia Public Library Service supports services for teens through the provision of a separate teen reading program held during the off school months, an annual teen conference covering an array of topics of interest to people serving teens, and a teen website during the annual Summer Reading Program (see above).
Teen showing off a speaker he made during a makerspace activity
Teen Reader Advisory
YALSA’s Book Awards & Booklists
These award-winning titles for teens from 12 to 18 years of age cover a broad range of reading and maturity levels.
Teen Book Finder Database
Search 4,000+ books, audiobooks and films from YALSA’s book awards and book lists.
Youth Services Listservs
The Georgia Public Library Service Children’s Services Listserv (CHLIB-l) is open to people working in Georgia’s public libraries. If you are working with children, this is the best method to keep current, learn about meetings and grants and receive help with issues concerning children’s services.
The Georgia Public Library Service Young Adult Services Listserv (YASVS-l) is open to people working in Georgia’s public libraries. If you are working with tweens and teens, this is the best method to keep current, learn about meetings and grants, and receive help with issues concerning young adult services.
