Summer Reading Program

Overview

Montana is a member of the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), which is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries.

By combining resources and working with an exclusive contracted vendor to produce materials designed for CSLP members, Montana public libraries can purchase posters, reading logs, bookmarks, certificates and a variety of reading incentives at significant savings.

CSLP offers Montana and other participating states a unified and high-quality promotional and programming summer reading product. Participants have access to the same artwork, incentives and publicity, in addition to an extensive manual of programming and promotional ideas. The Montana State Library purchases the manual and provides it to all Montana public libraries and branches at no charge.

Each year, CSLP produces four different summer reading programs for different ages centered around a similar theme. The four programs offered include: early childhood, children’s, teen, and adult.

CSLP began in 1987 when ten Minnesota regional library systems developed a summer library program for children, choosing a theme, creating artwork and selecting incentives that public libraries in the regions could purchase and use. State libraries and systems continue to join and CSLP continues to evolve, but its guiding principle remains the same, librarians sharing ideas, expertise and costs to produce a high-quality summer reading program for children. Contact Amelea Kim with questions on this program.

2023 Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)

2023 Summer Reading: All Together Now

2023 Program Theme: Kindness/Friendship/Unity
Slogan: "All Together Now"
Artist: Frank Morrison

2023 Summer Reading News and Resources:

New to Summer Reading and CSLP?

If you are new to Montana, or new to Summer Reading, here are some places for you to start with planning your Summer Reading program!

To Do:

Create a CSLP account at the CSLP website! It's free, and gives you access to more materials and information. To create a FREE account, please follow these directions:
- Go to CSLP's website: cslpreads.org
- Click on the "Log-in" button in the upper right, and click on "Register" to create your account.
- Once you create your account, CSLP will verify your account to make sure your library is part of their membership. This may take a day or two.
- Log-in with your account and start exploring the Summer Reading resources that CSLP has to offer! Here are some places I recommend checking out:
  - Research on Summer Reading:
    - Summer Reading Resources --> Summer Slide
    - Summer Reading Resources --> White Paper
  - Membership Benefits:
    - Membership and Information --> Rules of Use
    - Membership and Information --> Join a CSLP Committee
  - General Summer Reading Information:
    - Membership and Information --> Newsletters
Be on the lookout for directions on accessing your CSLP manual in September/October! The State Library will email out directions on how to access and download the online manual from the CSLP website. You MUST have a CSLP account to access the manual. The manual is free for Montana public libraries to access.
Participate in Summer Reading Brainstorm Webinars! The Montana State Library will host multiple Summer Reading Brainstorm opportunities in the months leading up to summer. These will be a mixture of webinars and in-person sessions, usually happening in January/February and at MLA in April. This is a great time to bring questions, and hear what your peers are doing.

Remember, you are welcome to reach out your CSLP representatives at any time! Currently, those are the following:

Cindy Christin, Bozeman Public Library
Amelea Kim, Montana State Library

Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP)

The USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to kids throughout the summer months when school is out. The SFSP is administered in Montana by the Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition Programs. Many Montana libraries participate in SFSP, either by participating as a host site and providing space, or providing activities and books for attendees during meal times. If your library is interesting in participating more in SFSP, please look at the following resources:

Summer Food Service Program - OPI Homepage
CSLP Summer Food Resources - This is a great place to see exactly what options you have for participating in summer food service programs. CSLP provides lots of great resources, programming ideas, and options to help you figure out the best way you can help in your community.

Grant Opportunities for Public Library Summer Reading Programs

Starting in 2022, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation has created a separate grant program to support Montana public library summer reading programs. While Town Pump has long supported public libraries through their charitable foundation, they decided to create a separate grant for libraries due to the positive impact summer reading was having on student learning, especially outside of school settings. Each grant is $1,000, and any public library in Montana is eligible to apply. Please see the following information for the application:

2023 Keep Kids Reading Town Pump Grant

Application opens March 1st, 2023 through April 14th
Checks will be issued in the first week of May
Please apply through the Town Pump Charitable Foundation Grant Application website. Click on "Keep Kids Reading" to open the grant application for that program on March 1st.

You can also see the 2022 Press Release for more details.

Previous Summer Reading Programs

2022 Summer Reading: Oceans of Possibilities!

2022 Program Theme: Oceanography
Slogan: "Oceans of Possibilities"
Artist: S ophie Blackall

2022 Summer Reading Trunk with MOR and FWP

Since 2012, MSL has partnered with the Museum of the Rockies to create a themed trunk full of activities that libraries can directly use with their patrons. This year's trunk focuses on Montana's aquatic life from the past and the present. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks also joined in to partner on this trunk - thanks to both organizations for all of their help and support!

How to Borrow the Trunk

For 2022, MSL only created one copy of the Summer Reading Trunk, and will be organizing a tour of the trunk to libraries across the state that request to borrow it. Please use the form below to submit your borrowing request before May 13th. Priority will be given to libraries that partner with other organizations/libraries in their area, so that multiple entities have plans to use the trunk during the borrowing period.

2022 Summer Reading Trunk Request Form (submission deadline May 13th)
Trunk Tour Schedule for 2022 - Google Calendar

2022 CSLP News

2022 Summer Reading Planning Resources

Informational Websites about Oceanography and Water
- National Oceanographic Data Center: National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Government site archives and provides public access to a wealth of global oceanographic and coastal data, products, and information.
- NOAA Count Down to World Ocean Day on June 2nd - Educational Graphics
- Ocean Literacy - National Marine Educators Association
- NOAA Education: The NOAA Education Portal is your one-stop shop to connect with learning and teaching resources about the ocean and atmosphere. Discover curricula, lesson plans, and real-time data to bring NOAA science into your classroom. Explore opportunities for educators and students of all levels. Apply for competitive funding for education projects.
- Earth Observing System (EOS): NASA. EOS is the Earth Observing System, in which satellites are used to monitor changes in climate on Earth from Space. The Educational part of this site provides free posters (one per teacher) about Ocean Processes, and how they relate to climate change, as well as a slide set (digital on-line) this topic. Great for on-line lectures. There are numerous other climate-related posters and slide sets, as well as links to educational products related to climate change.
- Introduction to Physical Oceanography: M. Tomczak, Flinders University. Online lecture notes for college introductory physical oceanography course. Includes topography, sea water, salinity, heat and mass budgets, depth, thermodynamics, thermohaline processes, climate, waves, tides, estuaries, instrumentation, and exercises.
- Oceanography, Earth & Marine Sciences, UC San Diego Library: The UC San Diego Library is recognized as having a world-class oceanography collection. Use the online guides, links, and resources below to discover the print and digital collections and resources in oceanography, earth and marine sciences, intended for the support of research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the world's premier oceanographic institution, researchers at the University of California and at other oceanographic institutions and centers around the world.
Informational Websites about Montana Water/Marine Life
- Flathead Lake Bio Center: The FLBS Mission is to serve the Flathead Lake region, the state of Montana, the nation, and the world by advancing a cutting-edge research, monitoring, education & outreach platform for limnology, ecology, and environmental science at Flathead Lake. They have educational resources for K-12 on their website.

2021 Summer Reading Program: Tails and Tales

Please check this page for updates on the 2021 Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP). You can also find information on the CSLP website. Please email akim@mt.gov with any questions you have.

2021 Program Theme:

Theme: Animals and Stories
Slogan: "Tails and Tales"
Artist: Salina Yoon

2021 CSLP News

2021 Summer Reading Planning Resources

2021 Summer Reading Evaluation

At the end of each summer, the Montana State Library evaluates the summer reading program to learn more about what went well, what was challenging, and what can be improved for next year. MSL uses a survey created by CSLP that uses a mixture of standardized questions that libraries all around the country will answer, and state-individualized questions that are only relevant to Montana. Once evaluation of the summer reading program is complete (typically around September) a Storymap summary will be created and posted on this webpage. For more information about the evaluation survey, please contact Amelea Kim at akim@mt.gov.

MSL also hosts a reflection webinar, which will happen on August 26th, Thursday, from 3 - 4 pm. Please see the Summer Reading Reflection ASPeN Event page for more information.

2020 Summer Reading Program: Imagine Your Story

2020 Program Theme:

Theme: Fairy Tales/Mythology/Folklore
Slogan: "Imagine Your Story"
Artist: LeUyen Pham

2020 CSLP Resources and News:

CSLP Artwork Announcement: CSLP sent the following email on 7/11/19 in regards to 2020 CSLP Artwork:
- "CSLP has revised its Rules of Use and has granted more freedom to its member libraries! Starting in 2020 libraries can:
  - Use CSLP artwork and slogans on any paper good including; bookmarks, posters, reading certificates, newsletters, press releases, and activity sheets. If it is printed on paper, you can create it!
  - Use CSLP artwork as long as you like! Member libraries no longer have to worry about pulling images from their websites after the program year. All CSLP artwork created after 2017 can be used indefinitely!
  - Use CSLP artwork and slogans on any "one-of-a-kind" item. Paint the slogan on the library's windows? Yes! Create a quilt based on the artwork? Yes! Use your topiary skills and transform the library's hedge into one of the characters from a CSLP poster? Absolutely, and please send photos!
  - Please see the Revised Rules of Use Webpage for more information.

2020 Summer Reading Planning Resources

Summer Reading Webinar MSL Vimeo Collection
- Webinar: 2020 Summer Reading Brainstorm (Thursday, 1/23, from 12 - 1 pm)
- Webinar: Imagine Your Story - Museum of the Rockies Summer Reading Kit Webinar (Thursday, 2/13, from 2:30 - 3:30 pm)
- Webinar: 2020 Summer Reading Brainstorm Part 2
- Webinar: 2020 Summer Reading Brainstorm Part 3
MLA Session: Summer Reading Kit Unboxing Session (Thursday, 4/2, from 8:30 - 10 am at the Montana Library Association Conference in Missoula) (CANCELLED)
MLA Session: Imagine Your Story - Getting Ready for Summer Reading (Friday, 4/3, from 10:15 - 11:15 am at the Montana Library Association Conference in Missoula) (CANCELLED)

2020 Museum of the Rockies Summer Reading Kit

The Montana State Library is partnering again with the Museum of the Rockies to create Summer Reading Kits for public libraries to use in their summer reading programs. The kits will contain four activities that draw on both the CSLP theme of "Imagine Your Story" as well as the holdings and educational topics that the Museum of the Rockies supports. Libraries will be able to keep the kit permanently and will not be expected to send it on to other libraries, or return it to MOR after use.

To find out more information about the 2020 MOR Summer Reading Kit, please attend the "Imagine Your Story: Museum of the Rockies Summer Reading Kit" webinar on February 13th, 2020, from 2:30 - 3:30 pm. The webinar link and registration can be found on the webinar event description page in ASPeN.

You must apply for the 2020 Summer Reading Kit. Limited supplies are available, so not all applicants will receive a kit.

2020 Summer Reading Kit Application Link (link no longer active)

Applications are due on Friday, February 28th, 2020. If you have any questions, please reach out to Amelea Kim at akim@mt.gov or Jaime August at MORoutreach@montana.edu.

2020 Summer Reading Supplemental Materials

Here is the list of supplemental materials from the 2/13/20 "Imagine Your Story: Museum of the Rockies Summer Reading Kit" webinar.

Humanities Montana
Storytelling Podcasts
Star Stories from OPI Indian Education for All
- Blackfeet Astronomy
- Crow Astronomy

2020 Summer Reading - READSquared

Starting in May 2020, the Montana State Library has signed a two-year contract with READSquared for up to 40 public libraries to use the software to run reading programs online with their communities. If you are interested in participating, please contact Amelea Kim at akim@mt.gov for more information.

For more information about READSquared, please see the following resources:

Recording of READSquared Features from Patron Perspective (about 40 minutes)
Demo of READSquared Program on Web Browser

This program is funded by CARES Act and IMLS funds.

2020 Summer Reading - Final Report

For those interested in how 2020 Summer Reading went, please view the following StoryMap with feedback and reflections from Montana libraries.

2020 Summer Reading Final Report

2019 Summer Reading: A Universe of Stories

2019 Summer Reading Program Materials: A Universe of Stories

2019 CSLP Ordering Catalog (PDF) - A hard copy version is available through the Montana State Library. Contact Amelea Kim if you want one!
NASA Downloadable Posters (PDFs) - High quality, beautiful, and FREE posters of space! This 14-poster "Vision of the Future" series was designed by 9 artists, designers, and illustrators to celebrate and inspire scientific imagination.
STARNet - Universe of Stories Website (STEM Programming Ideas) - STARNet has partnered with CSLP to share science and technology-related resources with libraries for 2019! Check out their website for resources and ideas on STEM-related activities.
NNLM Summer Reading Health Programming - The National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) has partnered with CSLP to bring health programming ideas for the summer! Check out their website for ideas about exploring DNA and family history, making stardust, discovering astronaut food, and more!

2019 CSLP Resources and News

Summer Meals at the Library - CSLP has created two resources to support and facilitate public library participation in the Summer Food Service Program.
- Online: Libraries and Summer Food How-To Guide
- Summer Meals Factsheet PDF
2019 Teen Video Challenge from CSLP - Do the teens in your library like to make videos? Encourage them to participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program 2019 Teen Video Challenge this summer! This year's Teen Video Challenge will be a NATIONAL contest and five winners will be chosen to receive a $200 cash prize plus $50 worth of summer reading materials for their library. *New* this year, the challenge will run through the summer, so you can hold video making programs in June and July. Videos can be submitted June 1-August 2, 2019. These 60 second-or-less videos should be their interpretation of the 2019 slogan "A Universe of Stories." For more information, including complete contest rules, visit the 2019 Teen Video Challenge link.

2019: Earth and Space Science Resources in Montana

The Montana State Library has connected with other earth and space science programs and resources in Montana. Here is a list of other organizations who focus on earth and space outreach and might serve as a valuable resource for offering this kind of programming at your library.

Space Outreach Team (SPOT): The Space Outreach Team is part of the Montana Space Grant Consortium, which is part of a NASA-sponsored national network that is dedicated to strengthening aerospace research and education across the States. SPOT focuses on outreach on Montana schools, youth programs, and community groups, and presenters from Bozeman, Missoula, and Billings travel around giving talks on NASA-related space topics. A new presentation is created each year, and the program is free, although there are some requirements (minimum audience size) and limitations (scheduling). The presentations run about 45 minutes, although there is time and age-appropriate content flexibility. If you are interested in having a SPOT presenter come to your library, please contact SPOT at spot.montana@gmail.com. You can also submit a presentation request through their website: Space Public Outreach Team
- Contact Information: spot.montana@gmail.com
- Space Outreach Team Website
Big Sky Astronomy: Based in Kalispell, the Big Sky Astronomy Association is available for presentations and astronomy programming at your library! Association members regularly give presentations on a variety of space topics, and can tailor content to different age levels and audiences. Scheduling and booking a speaker is free, although their area is service is limited to Western Montana. In the summer, Big Sky Astronomy also hosts Star Parties at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park where anyone and everyone is welcome to view the sky through their telescopes, and listen to stories and facts about the night sky (summer 2019 schedule will be available in May 2019). Other areas of interest for the Big Sky Astronomy Association include fighting light pollution and participating in the International Dark Sky Association. To contact Big Sky Astronomy Association for presentation bookings and general questions, please reach out to Mark Pauslon at mhpaulson@gmail.com. Note, availability is somewhat limited, so not all requests will be able to be met.
- Contact Information: Mark Paulson, mhpaulson@gmail.com
- Big Sky Astronomy Website
- Presentation Topics Available
Western Montana Astronomical Association: Based in Missoula, the Western Montana Astronomical Association works on public outreach to raise awareness and appreciation of space and the night sky. In particular, WMAA has worked with a few public libraries in Montana to create a telescope lending program, based off a lending model started in New Hampshire. Training, handbooks, and guidelines were provided to interested libraries and librarians, and public talks were also given to introduce the telescope and answer general astronomy questions. Additionally, WMAA co-hosts Star Parties and Viewing Sessions at the Blue Mountain Observatory with the University of Montana in the summer. These viewing sessions happen about twice a month, and are free to the public, although you will need to reserve a space in advance as the observatory has limited capacity. The schedule for the Star Parties will be released sometime in the spring, so make sure to check out U of M’s website for more details as summer draws closer. For more questions on the telescope lending program, or any of WMAA’s activities, please contact Nick Wethington at cycliste737@gmail.com, or you can check out their website at Missoula Sky Website
Museum of the Rockies: The Museum of the Rockies is an excellent source of space-related educational materials! Not only do they have a wonderful planetarium in-house, they have the following programs:
- Our Home, Our World: Discovering Earth and Space Science in Kumamoto and Montana Educator's Guide - This cross-cultural curriculum covers paleontology, geology, and astronomy and are designed to be effective in both Japanese and American classrooms and museums. The guide contains several activities regarding star stories, charts, constellations, paleontology, etc and is available online.
- Lending Library Outreach Kits - MOR has a variety of activity kits available for use, though you will have to pay a $25 rental fee, as well as shipping one way. Space-related kits include Cosmic Colors, The Moon, Living in Space, and Rockets. Other themed kits are also available in other science-related areas!
- STARLAB Planetariums - MOR has portable planetariums available for public use! This resource is slightly pricier with a rental fee of $175/week or $50/day, as well as shipping costs one way, but it is a really cool way to bring the planetarium experience to your community.
Stellarium: Stellarium is a "free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. Stellarium is very simple to use, which is one of its biggest advantages: it can be easily used by beginners. (from Stellarium.org)
- Stellarium FAQ Webpage
- Stellarium General Website
- Open Source Lessons that use Stellarium
  - Stellarium Activity Examples
  - Stellarium Worksheet Activity from UCO Lick Observatory
  - Moon Orbit Demonstration from Stargazer's Lounge Forum
  - Digitalis Open Astronomy Lesson Plans: Note, these lesson plans were not designed with Stellarium specifically in mind, but you might be able to adapt them to fit with Stellarium's capabilities
  - Open Educational resources Astronomy Exercises
New Hampshire Telescope Lending Program: From their website "The New Hampshire Astronomical Society, and particularly its Educational Outreach Committee, started placing telescopes and educational materials in selected libraries in New Hampshire beginning in December 2008." If you are interested in starting a program similar to this in your own library, this website has GREAT resources, from costs, set-up, circulation methods, and training, on how to do that.
Solar System Ambassador - Lynn Powers: Lynn Powers is part of the Solar Systems Ambassador network, and is a great resource for space-related programming and outreach. Her programs include toolkits for doing space outreach, solar telescopes for sun-viewing parties, and presentations on eclipses, the 50th anniversary of the Apollo landing, the geology of the moon, as well as an “Ask an Astronomer” program where people can come with questions to ask her, either in-person or through a webinar. Lynn has presented at libraries before, and much of her programming is scalable, according to the audience. If you are interested in bringing Lynn to your library, please feel free to reach out to her at l.powers@smasweb.org. Please note that Lynn’s schedule is more flexible during the summer, and while there is no presenter fee, she does charge for gas reimbursement.
STARNet - Science-Technology Activities and Resources for Libraries: This website is a GREAT way to look for STEM-related activities and ideas you can do in your library. The most useful section will be the STEM Activity Clearinghouse, where you can search and browse for high-quality and vetted STEM activities using a variety of filters such as audience, content level, difficulty, etc. Activities are also curated into collections, and STARNet has helpfully created a collection called "A Universe of Stories", for activities that are great for the summer reading theme. Other resources include webinars, a blog with news announcements, and opportunities to apply for traveling space science exhibits!
Women in Science - Posters and Resources: Sponsored by the NASA Chandra X-Ray Observatory, this website celebrates notable women in STEM and the amazing contributions they made to the exploration of the world and Universe around us. You can read about these women's stories, find educational activities, as well as print out beautifully designed posters and materials to create your own bulletin board display in your library.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Infographics: JPL has AMAZING infographics available for free download! You can browse through a variety of available infographics on space topics, or create your own using JPL images and data! Use this to supplement a display that you make in your library.