Month: July 2017

Join in this year’s Summer Read!

 

Join the Conversation! Read Daphne Miller’s Farmacology:  Total Health from the Ground Up

For the fifth year in a row WITF’s Transforming Health teams up with Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA and the Central PA library systems to present the “Summer Read”. The goal is to engage readers across Central PA in a conversation about the surprising connections between what we eat, how it’s grown and our personal wellness.  Throughout the book Miller seeks out the perspective of noted scientists ad weaves their insight into the story. The result is a whole new approach to health and healing combined with practical advice for how to treat disease and maintain wellness.

Public Libraries in Lancaster County have copies available for checkout. The title is also available as an e-book through OverDrive.

Participants in “A Summer Read” will have the chance to win a free copy of the book, meet Miller during a private book signing, and hear her speak on September 18, 2017, in Lancaster.  Thirty winners will be chosen from completed surveys.  More details to follow.

Complete the survey online!

or

Download the printed survey now.

This reading initiative for adults through September, 2017 is sponsored by WITF, Transforming Health, WellSpan Health, and Penn State Health.

For complete details, visit WITF’s Transforming Health/Summer Read

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The Dart Foundation donates $5,000 to the Library System in support of a new bookmobile!

 

Dart Foundation Check Presentation in support of new bookmobile

[Left to right]: Diane Tannehill (LSLC Board President); Bonnie Young (LSLC Executive Director); Jason Zimmerman (Dart Foundation); Ofelia Munoz-Castro (dart Foundation); Ed Miller (LSLC Special Services Manager) and Meredith Hendrix (Outreach Librarian).

The Library System is pleased to announce that The Dart Foundation has donated $5,000 to help with the cost of a new bookmobile.   As we celebrate 75 years of Bookmobile service in Lancaster County, the generous support from community agencies and businesses will help to ensure the continuation and expansion of this vital service.  The current bookmobile has been serving residents of Lancaster County for the past 16 years and is now in need of replacement.  A new, more-efficient model will be smaller than the old bookmobile, thus having better fuel efficiency and less impact on the environment.

The Dart Foundation supports projects that serve a large number of people and reaches a broad segment of the community. The Foundation is also committed to funding tangible needs that provide long-term impact and enhance an organization’s effectiveness, which aligns with the   mission and purpose of bookmobile service in Lancaster County.

Ed Miller, long-time Bookmobile driver and Special Services Manager for the Library System, looks forward to expanded capabilities of the new Bookmobile, “The new design will address key barriers to access that our current customers have and it’s “roll out” capacity will allow for the setup of book carts in lobbies and community gathering spaces.”

Bonnie Young, Library System Executive Director, is also enthusiastic about the support from the Dart Foundation, “We are excited that the bookmobile service will be expanding to every Head Start in Lancaster County. Curriculum-based books and programs will be brought into Head Start classroom to prepare children for kindergarten!”

Bookmobile’s Mission

Our highest priorities are to serve low and moderate-income neighborhoods and organizations that serve this population. The Bookmobile stops at over 50 locations in Lancaster County, which include 22 stops at Head Start Centers, preschools, and daycare centers and Amish Schools; 37 monthly stops for Seniors at assisted living facilities, personal care homes, retirement communities and low-income senior apartment buildings. Bookmobile staff offer storytimes and early literacy programs at the Head Start, preschool and daycare centers during their visits.  At the Bookmobile, you can find high quality fiction and nonfiction for all ages, large print materials, audio books and DVDs.

Dart Foundation Logo

The mission of the Dart Foundation is to advance and encourage youth education, primarily in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They also support projects that strengthen and improve the quality of life in numerous identified communities. The Dart Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1984 by William A. and Claire T. Dart. Founded in Mason, Michigan, the Dart Foundation continues to be headquartered there. Because of this, the mid-Michigan area has long been a focal point of Dart Foundation philanthropy. In addition, grants are made in Sarasota, FL and the communities which serve as homes to Dart Container Corporation’s production facilities and sales headquarters, such as Lancaster County.

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Help support the Public Libraries of Lancaster County!

Your purchase of an Adult Ticket to a Barnstormers Game will benefit The Public Libraries of Lancaster County!

The Barnstormers will donate a portion of any Adult ticket purchased by an adult who wishes to attend ANY HOME Barnstormers Game with their child who has earned a Reading Reward Voucher!  $4.00 from each Adult ticket purchase will be donated to the Public Libraries of Lancaster County!

Eligible Game Dates

August 15, 2017 thru September 14, 2017

 

Tickets may be purchased at the Box Office or online:

http://www.lancasterbarnstormers.com

To take advantage of this offer please mention the Code:

LIBRARYSYSTEM

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Public Libraries help students prevent Summer Slide!

Summer is here! For many elementary and secondary students across the state, it signifies ball games, pools, family vacations, and that longed-for break from school work. But, did you know that a complete separation from activities such as reading and writing could have negative effects on a child’s education?

Summer setback, also known as “summer slide” or “summer learning loss,” occurs when children lose academic skills during the summertime, when they are most often out of practice.

Summer Slide Setback Happens So Fast!

Research Findings on Summer Slide:

  • Children in low-income households fall behind an average of 2 months in reading during the summer. And, summer slide is cumulative, with these learning losses building up each summer.
  • Summer learning loss accounts for two-thirds of the 9th grade achievement gap in reading between students from low-income households and their higher-income peers.
  • Students from low-income households with access to books over the summer see significantly more gains in reading scores from spring to fall than students from high-income households with access to books and those from low-income households without access to books.
  • Differences in children’s summer learning experiences during their elementary school years can ultimately impact whether they earn a high school diploma and continue to college.

The effects of summer setback cumulate from year to year, leading to lower proficiency levels in the long run, as seen by over 100 years’ worth of studies focused on this topic. Johns Hopkins School of Education notes research stating that “two-thirds of the ninth grade reading achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary school years.” Students with unequal or nonexistent access to educational opportunities over the summer are less likely to graduate high school on time or even enter college.

How can we combat summer setback and help our children reach their highest achievements?

  • Take advantage of opportunities in the community: 95% of libraries offer summer reading programs for students—check them out! Stay in-the-know with what’s going on at local art museums, science centers, school programs, and more. Not only do these programs invite children to try new things, but they participate in crafts and activities and can be socially interactive with their peers.
  • Make fun books accessible: Whether you have them at home, on your e-reader, in your purse, or at the library, make books easily accessible. Let children select the topics they want to read about. Studies show that children are more likely to read—and keep reading—if they are excited about the content. Studies also show that even reading six books over the summer helps to reduce summer reading loss.
  • To-Go Packs: Summers are often busy times for everyone. Purchase or make travel packs to include math problems, writing prompts, trivia questions, and other activities that sneak in educational opportunities in enjoyable ways.
  • Converse: Converse with your child. Open dialogue exposes your child to new ideas and vocabulary words. Go for a walk and talk about the trees, using descriptive adjectives. Talk about the food you’re eating to describe the flavors, cultures, or the science behind how they are made.
  • Play games: Games are a fantastic way to fit in educational experiences. Playing board games can encourage creativity, reading and math skills, communication, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

 

PA Forward logo

 

 

About Pennsylvania Libraries and PA Forward

Libraries across Pennsylvania are working together with the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) to move PA Forward and ensure that libraries take their rightful place as leaders of a vision that requires a unique combination of new technology, community access, and commitment to learning. Libraries are key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in Pennsylvania by fueling the types of knowledge essential to success: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy, and Financial Literacy. At PaLA we envision a Pennsylvania where citizens know how to use online resources and current technology to improve their education, to enhance their job skills, and to fully participate in a digital society. Find out more at http://www.paforward.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/paforward

Resources

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