Institute of Museum and Library Services and Second Lady Usha Vance Promote Childhood Literacy

WASHINGTON, DC— The Institute of Museum and Library Services proudly supports Second Lady Usha Vance’s nationwide Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge encourages kindergarten through eighth-grade students to continue their intellectual and personal development throughout the summer by reading at least twelve books.

To participate, students and their parents should download the Summer Reading Challenge Log, after reading twelve books over the summer. Successful participants can submit their completed logs to read@mail.whitehouse.gov by September 5th to receive a personalized certificate, a small prize, and entrance into a raffle to visit the Nation’s Capital.

“Reading during summer reinforces the lessons that our students learned during the schoolyear while addressing the summer slide and fostering a lifelong love of books,” said IMLS Acting Director Keith Sonderling. “The Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge is an excellent way for young people to dive into reading.”

As the largest federal funder of museums and libraries, IMLS recognizes the critical role that public and school libraries play in ensuring that students have year-round access to books. For that reason, we are working with our partners in every State Library Administrative Agency to increase awareness of the Summer Reading Challenge.

“In every US state and territory, State Library Administrative Agencies partner with local libraries and community leaders to provide reading materials that support educational opportunities. By sharing the Summer Reading Challenge with their constituents, SLAAs can leverage their broad reach and ongoing alignment with literacy initiatives,” said Teri DeVoe, IMLS Associate Deputy Director.  

To learn more about Second Lady Usha Vance’s Summer Reading Challenge, please visit www.imls.gov/our-work/partnerships/summer-reading-challenge.