Proclamation in Recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Park Ridge Public Library’s Summer Reading Program:
Whereas, the Park Ridge Library’s Summer Reading program was created in 1924 by Head Librarian Frances Holbrook to inspire kids to read over the summer. The program was originally called the Vacation Reading Club. Later, during WWII, the club was renamed the Victory Reading Club. The name of the program may have changed through the years, but the goal to get people excited to read never changed and continues to grow every summer since; and
Whereas, today, the program is open to readers of all ages and draws more than 3,000 participants annually; and
Whereas, programs for children build pre-literacy and early-literacy skills and help children enter school ready to read and ready to learn. Programs for school-aged children and teens help them retain and build academic skills through the long summer months so they return to school without suffering a summer slide in academic retention; an
Whereas, researchers found that adults who establish a regular reading habit experience better sleep, less stress and increased empathy for and connection with their fellow community members; and
Whereas, the Library’s Summer Reading program encourages readers of all ages to read every day, challenge themselves with new stories, genres and authors, and brings our community of readers together.
Now therefore, I, Marty Maloney, Mayor of the City of Park Ridge, hereby proclaim the month of July 2024 as Summer Reading Month in the City of Park Ridge, and I urge all residents to participate in the Summer Reading program and all library events and to continue to foster a love of reading in our community.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Park Ridge to be affixed this 1st day of July, two thousand twenty-four.
