MY SUMMER LIBRARY
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My Summer Library
Improving Third Grade Reading Proficiency
The My Summer Library program coordinated by the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona represents a targeted approach to reach children in Pima County and southern Arizona who attend elementary schools that are working to improve educational outcomes. The goals of My Summer Library are to improve 3rd-grade reading proficiency, build students’ home libraries and mitigate summer reading loss.
My Summer Library works to accomplish its goals by increasing access to free age-appropriate books for young students (prekindergarten to second grade) so they can build a home library, practice their literacy skills and develop a love of reading in the comfort of their home. My Summer Library also helps in mitigating summer learning loss. By making books available to keep in the home, developing literacy skills can continue through the summer break.
2024 My Summer Library Schools
Ajo Unified School District:
- Ajo Elementary, Ajo, 85321
Amphitheater Unified School District:
- Holaway Elementary, Tucson, 85705
- Prince Elementary, Tucson, 85715
Baboquivari Unified School District
- Indian Oasis Elementary, Sells, 85634
Bureau of Indian Education Tohono O’odham Nation
- San Simon Elementary, Sells, 85634
Flowing Wells Unified School District
- Laguna Elementary, Tucson, 85705
- Walter Douglas Elementary, Tucson, 85705
Marana Unified School District
- Roadrunner Elementary, Marana, 85653
Sahuarita Unified School District
- Sopori Elementary, Amado, 85645
Sunnyside Unified School District
- Drexel Elementary, Tucson, 85706
- Los Niños Elementary, Tucson, 85706
Tucson Unified School District
- CE Rose K-8, Tucson, 85714
- Lynn Urquides Elementary, Tucson, 85713
- Maldonado Elementary, Tucson, 85746
- Manzo Elementary, Tucson, 85745
- Myers-Ganoug Elementary, Tucson, 85711
- Oyama Elementary, Tucson, 85713
- Grijalva Elementary, Tucson, 85746
For more than ten years My Summer Library has played a large role in supporting the development of early literacy skills. Participating children have the opportunity to select their own books – an aspect research studies have shown that is highly successfully in supporting children’s interest in reading. When children can choose to read what interests them, they are more likely to want to read. Additionally, parent surveys reveal that 30% of participating children are bringing books home to keep for the first time. In these cases, My Summer Library represents the first opportunity these students and families have to experience books in the home that they can keep, free of charge. Research has shown that access to books in the home can foster the love the literacy and the early skills needed to become fluent readers later in the elementary years, especially for under-resourced families.
Adopt a School!
Classrooms:
School classrooms are selected based on student demographics and the program is focused on areas with high need. Our littlest learners require big supports to create lasting change and pave the way for future educational success. Last year, we distributed 30,500 books to 2,542 children in 18 schools. We also would like to thank 148 volunteers donating 480 hours to help children choose their 12 free books.
