Oregon's Salem-Keizer School District is helping its students avoid brain drain—by keeping several school libraries open during the summer months.
Seven Title I media centers throughout the district continue to keep their doors open two hours each week, and local kids are welcome to read, check out books, or attend read-alouds. Although it's not a new concept, it's the first time Salem-Keizer has kept summer hours-and so far, kids seem to be enjoying it, says Stephen Cox, the district's library media program specialist.
School libraries are located in buildings that offer the Summer Meal program, where any qualified child age 18 and under can eat lunch, and sometimes breakfast, for free five days a week. "After and before lunch, students are encouraged to go to the school library to check out a book."
