Since 1919, the Library has used the summer vacation months as an opportunity to encourage children to read recreationally. A summer reading program has been offered in Indianapolis every year since then. The goal of the Summer Reading Program is to keep children reading during the summer months and to instill in them a love of reading.
Many studies emphasize the critical importance of early development and mastery of reading skills.
The Summer Reading Program offers incentives to the participants for reading books throughout the summer, helping to avoid the loss in skills that often occurs in the months children are off from school. An exciting new incentive is being offered to participants this year. This year's program will encourage participants to help others. By allowing children to donate their points to a charitable cause, we will not only be helping those in need, we will be teaching children about philanthropy. Well over one-fourth of the Summer Reading Program's participants are from households in the lower half of the national income level.