Wisconsin Children's Performer Directory

The Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) maintains a directory of children's performers which is updated monthly. Visit the Wisconsin Children's Performer Directory to find the descriptions of over two hundred performers and presenters who enjoy working with children in public libraries and schools. Jamie McCanless maintains the Directory for DLT.

Participation in Wisconsin Summer Library Program

Participation Data 2003-2011.

Collaborative Summer Library Program

Each year DLT coordinates a summer reading program on behalf of Wisconsin's public libraries. Wisconsin is a member of the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP). Forty-six states are currently members of CSLP. Through CSLP, Wisconsin libraries are able to purchase high-quality materials at low cost needed for the program. "Dig Into Reading" is the children's theme in 2013, and "Beneath the Surface" is the teen theme.

2013 Illustrators

The artist for the 2013 early literacy and children's programs "Dig Into Reading" is Scott Nash. An accomplished illustrator with a distinctive, vibrant style, Scott has illustrated more than 30 children’s books. His work as a designer and illustrator has been recognized by leading trade organizations and publications, including The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (EMMY award), the Society of Illustrators, HOW, Communications Arts, Print, and Publishers Weekly magazine. He is a graduate of the Swain School of Design, holds a master’s degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and is currently head of the Illustration Department at Maine College of Art, where he also teaches. To learn more about Scott, visit his website at scottnash.com.

The design for the teen theme "Beneath the Surface" was created by Duncan Long. Over the last two decades, he has created more than a thousand cover and interior illustrations for magazines and books, including Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, HarperCollins, PS Publishing, Pocket Books, Solomon Press, Paladin Press, Ballistic Publications, American Media, Fort Ross, Lyons Press, and many other small presses, indie publishers, and self-publishing authors. Visit his website at duncanlong.com.

Shane Rebensheid designed the artwork for the adult program theme, "Groundbreaking Reads." He is best known for his photo illustrations, the realism of his 2D digital designs, and science-fiction and fantasy book covers. Since graduating from the Art Center College of Design in 1998, Shane's work has appeared in the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles and New York annuals as well as numerous national and international publications and advertising campaigns. See more of Shane's work at shannonassociates.com/artist/shanerebenschied.

Research About the Importance of Summer Reading

• The Dominican Study: Public Library Summer Reading Programs Close the Reading Gap (2010) examined the impact of public library summer reading program on student achievement dom.edu/gslis/downloads/DOM_IMLS_book_2010_FINAL_web.pdf
• The New York State Library published The Importance of Summer Reading: Public Library Summer Reading Programs and Learning in 2010 (updated 2011). www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/brief01.pdf
• The American Association of School Librarians, a division of the American Library Association, published Reading Takes You Places: A Study of a Web-based Summer Reading Program 2007. ala.org/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/slmrcontents/volume10/lu_reading
• The Collaborative Summer Library Program links to studies showing that public library summer reading programs enhance student achievement. cslpreads.org/learning-tools/summer-reading-research.html
• The National Summer Learning Association serves as a network hub for thousands of summer learning program providers and stakeholders across the country. Research links can be found on their association publications webpage. summerlearning.org/?page=association_pubs
• Talking points from DPI about the value of summer library programs. dpi.wi.gov/pld/pdf/slp-points.pdf
  • Summer Reading Loss
  • Students Who Struggle with Reading
  • Self-Selection of Reading Materials
  • Safe Summer Activities
• Closing the Summer Reading Gap: You Can Make a Difference! Reading Today April 2008. Linda B. Gambrell is Distinguished Professor of Education in the Eugene T. Moore School of Education at Clemson University. www.reading.org/General/Publications/ReadingToday/RTY-0804-summer.aspx

Assuring Patron Privacy and Safety During Summer Programs

Issues Regarding Libraries Posting Photos on Facebook, Flickr, MySpace, and Library Webpages

General Child Safety Tips for Summer Reading Programs. As a safety precaution and to protect the privacy of library records, children's reading records should be located in an area or accessed in a way that does not allow members of the public from knowing the children's last name. Contest forms that include children's addresses and/or phone numbers should be put in a container in which they can't be read by passers-by. If children's faces are used on library web pages or if contest winners names are released to the local newspaper, a parental permission slip is strongly encouraged. Many libraries that routinely take pictures during library events include a parental permission slip to allow the library to photograph their child as part of their registration process. This is not a legal requirement, but extra precaution is encouraged whenever minors are involved.