By Craig Scott, Director, Gadsden Public Library
As I write this column, the Gadsden Public Library is buzzing with activity today. Children are laughing, teenagers are gathering with friends, parents are signing registration forms, and grandparents are helping youngsters decide which books they might read first. In fact, I estimate that more than 150 children, teens, and family members are currently filling our library for our Summer Reading Kick-Off Party.
The scene is wonderfully chaotic.
Originally, we planned to hold today’s festivities outdoors, but a few rain showers had other ideas. Instead, we’ve moved the fun inside. Carnival games, temporary tattoos, door prizes, and registration tables have transformed the library into a celebration of reading and learning. Outside, two local food trucks—Pop Culture Soda and Funkee Franks—are helping make the day even more memorable.
While today’s event is certainly about fun, it is also about something much more important.
Every summer, educators talk about the “summer slide,” a term used to describe the learning loss that can occur when students stop reading and engaging their minds during the school break. In fact, I wrote about this very issue in my previous Messenger column because it is a challenge faced by schools, parents, and communities across the nation. Research has consistently shown that children who continue reading throughout the summer are more likely to maintain—or even improve—their reading skills when they return to school in the fall. Those who set books aside for the summer often spend the first weeks of a new school year working to regain lost ground, making summer reading one of the simplest and most effective ways to support academic success. That is why libraries across America invest so much time and energy into Summer Reading programs.
At the Gadsden Public Library, our goal is simple: keep young people reading, learning, and exploring while school is out. We want reading to be something children and teenagers choose to do because it is enjoyable—not just because it is assigned. Summer Reading gives young people opportunities to discover new authors, explore new subjects, and develop a lifelong habit that can benefit them for years to come.
Of course, Summer Reading is not just for children. It is also about families. One of my favorite sights today has been watching parents and grandparents helping young readers sign up for the program and select books together. Reading is one of the few activities that can be shared across generations, and libraries provide a place where those connections can grow.
Throughout the summer, the Gadsden Public Library will offer separate Summer Reading programs for children and teenagers, each filled with exciting activities, special guests, and opportunities to learn while having fun. From llamas visiting the library to archaeology programs, crafts, games, and special events, there will be something for every age and interest.
As today’s Kick-Off Party continues around me, I am reminded that public libraries are about much more than books. They are places where communities gather, where families connect, and where young minds are encouraged to dream, imagine, and grow.
The summer reading adventure has officially begun, and we invite every child and teenager in our community to join us.
After all, what happens to kids who read all summer?
They return to school stronger, more confident, and ready for whatever comes next. And that’s a result worth celebrating.
- Gadsden Public Library: 254 South College Street, downtown Gadsden (next to the U.S. Post Office). Phone: 256-549-4699
- Genealogy Branch: 2700 West Meighan Boulevard, Alabama City (corner of West Meighan and Wall Street). Phone: 256-549-4688
