Elementary school children in Klein, TX, have just ended several fun-filled summer reading programs at—of all places—their school libraries. Thanks to a program sponsored by the Klein Independent School District, seven media centers opened their doors—and their many services—to local kids and their siblings for six weeks this summer. Librarian Hillary Volkmann talked to SLJ about her program for young readers at nearby Roth Elementary.  Not many school libraries are open in the summer. How did your district manage to pull it off? The library services department had funds to pay for one librarian and one library assistant for one day a week from June 17 to July 24. With my Principal Ann Dristas in favor of opening our library, I was happy to do it. Klein Independent School District opened seven elementary campus libraries to provide students opportunities to improve and maintain literacy by participating in summer recreational reading activities. The pay was added on our summer paychecks. What were your hours like? I selected to have the library open to patrons from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays. I chose to open later as most people tend to sleep late during summer vacation. Sounds like you attracted quite a few kids. We were so happy to see around 50 children and their families participate in the program on a regular basis. They included Klein students, their siblings, and a supporting adult family member or babysitter. Most of the children from Roth typically walk or ride their bicycles to school during the school year. What kinds of programming did you offer? I recruited six Roth teachers to volunteer to read for one hour per library day, and I performed a Rumpelstiltskin puppet show during our fairy tale week. We listed our “guest readers” on student flyers, and we always had the best turnout whenever they read. I also ordered many props for the library and changed the displays weekly. Some of our most popular items were my “Get a Clue” display items. The kids had a chance to examine a real magnifying glass to pretend to be a detective. At checkout, each child was given a “get a clue” bookmark and a hidden pictures sheet to take home. There were prizes and reading certificates given to the majority of our students. The incentive to read at least 20 books for an additional free book to take home was a big success. The top readers read or heard 40 books read to them by their grandparents. We are so happy that even some parents and older siblings found books at Roth to take home to read. Each checkout was limited to five books per family. How did you publicize your summer hours? I designed a flyer to send with our district permission slip on the back home with all of our students at Roth in their report card folder. The flyer was also added on our summer library link on the Roth Library Web page. The Roth home page also invited everyone to join us at the library. Our outside marquee also listed our library hours, and we posted the flyer at the school front door, so anyone who came to Roth on a day that we were closed had an opportunity to see the schedule. Why don't you think more school libraries stay open year-round? The majority of school libraries that are typically open are in schools where a summer-school program is in progress. Those libraries are there to support the classes offered in summer school, not recreational programs like the one we offered. The Klein program gave the kids another venue to spend time reading close to home and a chance to spend quality time with familiar staff and friends. What should other school libraries who want to stay open in the summer do in terms of seeking permission and securing funding? Consult your school principal and any library administrators who support you during your school programming planning sessions. Perhaps there is leftover funding to bring this program to fruition at schools that are interested. One roadblock for a library may be lack of interest by the school library staff to stand alone to open the library during summer. Many plan out their summer vacations and feel that this takes away from their time off from the school. The support of your district officials is key to getting a summer program off the ground. Do you think more kids would visit school libraries over the summer if they were open? On the last day of our library program, there was a parent and PTO volunteer, Kim Isom, who came to me to exclaim what a wonderful summer program we offered. Her two boys were frequent patrons who brought their books to and from the library in home-decorated book bags. Mrs. Isom also checked out the book Inkheart by Cornelia Funke for herself and her children. It was so good that she is off to read the sequel, Inkspell, later in the summer, either buying it or checking it out at the public library. Fun was had by all, and one very young preschooler came each week to choose her book and overcame her shyness as the weeks progressed. Each reader got a lot out of the program, and this was a wonderful way to get to know each and every visitor in this cozy environment. I was very proud to report that all the books were returned by the last library day, except one patron’s mom was in labor and could not come to the library that day.