public library summer reading programs

[Debra Marie Balsam <dbalsam@PEN.K12.VA.US>]

The Arlington. Va public library system runs a summer reading
program called Summer Quest each year.  During the last few
weeks of school the public librarians visit each school for a
book talk and to promote the Summer Quest. Our school takes 4
days.
My school has 600 students and last year 250 students
participated in Summer Quest.  The public librarian that serves
my school sent me a list of all the students who participated.
In the fall I try to send each student a Reading Certifiacte
ofParticiaption.

On issue of the public/school librarians, Arlington has a good
relationship.  We meet formally, at least twice a year, to
share information and lunch. The public librarians host the
fall meeting and the school librarians host the spring.
Currently we are inthe process of developing a shared database
for all the school libraries and public libraries in the county.
All the high school and middle school have been on-line since
last year.  About 5 elementary schools came on-line this fall.
The remaining schools will be comingup shortly.
Arlington has recently signed a contract with CARL and we will
be switching to that this spring. Because the of the shared
database their are frequently meeting between the public and
school librarians to discuss the parameters of the system and
other issue that need to be worked out.
--
Debra Balsam
Taylor Elementary
Arlington, VA
703-358-6275
dbalsam@pen.k12.va.us