NJ Libraries encouraged to invite their state legislators to participate in summer reading programs during the week of July 17 – 24, 2012

The New Jersey State Library is encouraging all public libraries to invite their state legislators to visit their library during the week of July 17 – 24, 2012, to attend any program that is being held as part of the library’s summer reading program.  We know how important summer reading is in helping young people to maintain their reading skills over the summer.  Norma Blake, New Jersey State Librarian, said, “I hope legislators who haven’t visited their local libraries in a while will visit their library during that week. This will give libraries an opportunity to show our leaders and lawmakers what kinds of programs are being offered in their communities during the summer months.”

By inviting the legislators into your library we want to:

• Remind them how important the summer reading program is in ensuring the future success of young people.
• Let them see the exciting programs that are being offered to young people and adults in the summer.
• Show them how having a funded summer reading program makes a real difference in young people’s lives.  
• Let them know that the statewide summer reading program is administered by the NJ Library Association through a grant from the NJ State Library that it receives from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent US federal agency supporting museums and libraries of all types.
• Remind them how vitally important it is that we continue to receive this funding through the IMLS.
• Impress upon them the value of libraries.

Contact your state Senator or Assembly representatives and ask them to visit your library and participate in a summer reading program activity in some way - by reading to the kids, handing out raffle tickets, etc.

You can find contact information for your state legislators at: www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp

The New Jersey State Library Summer Reading Brief with 2011 Statistics is attached.

Let us at the NJ State Library know that you’ve invited a legislator to attend a summer reading program activity. Contact Sharon Rawlins, youth services consultant, Library Development Bureau, at srawlins@njstatelib.org or 609-278-2640 ext. 116 or Gary Cooper, public relations & news media contact, at gcooper@njstatelib.org, 609-278-2640 ext. 108.

We would love to have photos of the visit as well. Please send any photo or publicity your library receives in the local press to Gary Cooper’s attention.