Grand Canyon Times

PHOENIX – Secretary of State Adrian Fontes today announced the 'All Together Now!' Arizona Summer Reading Program, encouraging readers of all ages to visit their neighborhood library to participate.

The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State's office, is partnering with 235 public libraries and neighborhood branches statewide to launch the program. The start date may vary from library to library, but generally runs from June 1 through August 1 and plays a vital role in helping to reduce what is known as the "Summer Slide"—the learning loss experienced while transitioning between school years.

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said: "Summer is almost here for kids and young adults, and programs like 'All Together Now' are a great way to spread the word that reading is a year-round activity for the entire family. My office is proud to support our libraries, which are the best places for anyone who wants to learn, play, and stay cool this summer."

Each Arizona library is encouraged to adapt the 'All Together Now!' theme and resources to meet the needs and assets of their own community. Most libraries begin planning for summer reading in September to ensure their community has a quality experience and to support literacy when children are not attending school.

The Arizona Summer Reading Program encourages readers of all ages to read 20 minutes a day and offers library events like scavenger hunts, storytimes, art projects, science and engineering programming, and more. Families are also invited to sign up to keep track of the total minutes read throughout the summer, either online or by using a paper gameboard.

"During the Summer of 2022 over 107,500 Arizonans of all ages participated in a summer library program and read a total of 89,167,878 minutes," said State Librarian Holly Henley. "We are looking forward to even more participation this summer, with more minutes being read, as libraries across Arizona work All Together Now! to provide an enriching library experience for all ages."

Participating in your library's summer programs is free. Call your local library or visit their website to learn more.

About the Arizona Summer Reading Library Programs

The Arizona Reading Program (ARP), sponsored by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, promotes literacy development by providing resources that help librarians plan, promote, and implement reading programs for all ages. This project is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Original source can be found here.