Summer Reading Program Impact Study

Every summer, public libraries in every state offer a reading program. Anecdotal information shows that parents, children and teens love their summer reading program.  Staff at the Library of Virginia wanted to explore further the impact that library summer reading programs have on supporting summer learning and preventing summer reading loss. Partnering with the Virginia Department of Education, using a system that tracks what children are reading in the summer, and working with the expertise of an international research company, McREL, we are conducting a study on the impact of the summer reading program in Virginia.

Funding for the study was provided through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), a program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The study began in 2013, and the final report was published in November 2015.

Impact of Public Library Summer Reading Programs in Virginia infographic.

Overview of the study of the impact of the summer reading program

In 2013 McREL purchased Edvantia who was originally awarded the bid for the study.

Report One

Report Two

Report Three

Report Four

Libraries who participated in the study

Alexandria Library 
Amherst County Public Library - participated only in year one  of the study
Appomattox Regional Library - participated only  in year one of the study
Augusta County Library  - participated in the site visit – Report Two
Bedford Public Library – Impact analysis provided – Report Three
Blue Ridge Regional Library
Buchanan County Public Library  - participated in the site visit – Report Two
Campbell County Public Library
Caroline Library Inc
Central Rappahannock Regional Library – Impact analysis provided – Report Three
Chesapeake Public Library – Impact analysis provided – Report Three
Charles Pinckney Jones Memorial Library
Chesterfield County Public Library  - participated in the site visit – Report Two,  Impact analysis provide  - Report Three
Cumberland County Public Library
Essex Public Library
Hampton Public Library  - Impact analysis provided – Report Three
Handley Regional Library – Impact analysis provided – Report Three
Heritage Public Library
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library – Impact analysis provided – Report Three
L.E. Smoot Memorial Library
Meherrin Regional Library
Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library
Newport News Public Library
Norfolk Public Library
Orange County Public Library
Pamunkey Regional Library – Impact analysis provided – Report Three
Petersburg Public Library
Pittsylvania County Public Library
Poquoson Public Library
Portsmouth Public Library
Powhatan County Public Library
Pulaski County Public Library System
Radford Public Library
Richmond Public Library
Roanoke County Public Library – Impact analysis provided – Report Three
Roanoke Public Library – participated in the site visits – Report Two
Russell County Public Library
Salem Public Library
Shenandoah County Library
Southside Regional Library
Staunton Public Library
Virginia Beach Public Library  - participated in the site visits – Report Two,  Impact analysis provided – Report Three
Washington County Public Library
Waynesboro Public Library
Williamsburg Regional Library


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