New York Public Library Kicks off Summer Reading Program at Mott Haven Branch with Neighborhood Block Party

Celebration launches annual program to combat “Summer Slide”; selected readers to be honored at Yankee Stadium in August 

The New York Public Library’s annual Summer Reading competition kicks off at 10 a.m. on June 4 with a day-long community block party at Mott Haven branch, located at 321 East 140th Street in the Bronx. The program will open with guest Nathan Hale, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series, “Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales,” and will feature educational outdoor and indoor activities at the branch for both patrons and the members of the Mott Haven community.  Library representatives, local elected officials and lead sponsor HSBC Bank USA will also be giving remarks.

The theme for this year’s program is "Every Hero Has a Story". Throughout the summer, NYPL branches in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island will offer a wide variety of events and workshops around the theme, encouraging readers of all ages to create stories about, share experiences of and find inspiration from the superheroes in their own lives for at least 20 minutes each day.

"Reading is, first and foremost, fun, taking us on adventures and to faraway places right from our living room, stoop, or library," said NYPL President Tony Marx. "But reading is also critically important for development, learning, and growth. So this year, in the names of both learning and fun, we are challenging kids and adults to read for 20 minutes a day. It will spark thought, imagination, and a love of reading that will last through the summer and beyond." 

The programming events are combined with reading incentives to encourage children and teens to read at their local branches throughout the summer in order to combat “summer slide,” the loss of skills over the summer that can make learning difficult during the school year.  Some of the hero-themed events include "Be a City Hero," a series of science programs for kids, and "The Science of Superheroes" a series of science programs for teens. Readers will also be encouraged to write a book review on any book about baseball or a baseball player for a chance to receive tickets to a Yankees game in August. Selected participants will be invited to a meet-and-greet with a Yankees player and the chance to visit home plate during a pre-game ceremony that day.

Summer reading participants can register at their local library, where they can pick up additional booklists, calendars, and other materials.  Summer Readers can also visit www.nypl.org/summer to review specialized reading lists and find a calendar of events at local libraries.

Contact:

Adenike Olanrewaju | adenikeolanrewaju@nypl.org

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.