Just a bit of an update -- our teen program is fast approaching one hundred participants -- largely because one of the activities is filming a horror movie. The librarian dies - no surprise there. Also, we have been marketing the adult summer read to the parents who visit the library with their children and we have almost 40 participants this year. It's been wonderful to see!

I'm super lucky, our local library is great -- very active & busy! They have a great summer reading program for younger elementary kids & host book clubs for middle & high school kids (I hear they are packed too!).

We also have been doing the B&N summer reading program for years, where you get a free book after you have read 8 books.

Personally, I love book clubs. I belong to a local one & also an online one. Unfortunately, summers are too crazy busy for me -- I wasnt able to participate this month & struggled to finish the June selection.

I think many studies end up with results that the researcher wants to find. Of course it makes sense that people, including children, will do something they don't care for as long as they are rewarded for it. Then, if the rewards go away, so does the behavior. I also believe that you are either a reader or you're not. If you're a reader, you either know it or you don't. Just like trying new foods or anything else new, sometimes you need an incentive.

A true reader doesn't need an incentive to do something they love. However, if you can do something you enjoy and get something out of it at the same time, why not?

Your mileage may vary.

Hi Nick --

I agree with you -- why not score points or free books or whatever for doing something you love to do anyway. For the kids, however, the real deal is avoiding the "summer slide" where their reading skills go down if they do not read during the 10-week break.

The new graphic novel formats make reading "fun" for those who may not otherwise do so.