Summer Reading and the Potential Contribution of the Public Library in Improving Reading for Children of Poverty

Krashen, Stephen and Fay Shin. "Summer Reading and the Potential Contribution of the Public Library in Improving Reading for Children of Poverty," [.pdf file] Public Library Quarterly, Vol. 23 (3/4), 2004.

• Research shows that there is very little difference in reading gains between children from high- and low-income families during the school year.
  
• Over the summer, children from high-income families make better progress in reading and the difference is cumulative over time.
  
• Increasing access to books and reading over the summer through public library programs is of great benefit to children from low-income families.
  
• However, libraries need to improve the quality of materials available to these children for the benefit to occur.