The San Bernardino County Library invites you to build your mind and participate in our Summer Reading Program: Gear Up & Read!

Throughout the summer, the County Library will host amazing programs and activities as well as give away fantastic rewards at all 32 of our branch libraries. Participating is easy: beam in to your local San Bernardino County Library to sign-up and become part of this read for rewards program to earn exciting weekly incentives.

Gear Up & Read! is part of our county community’s Vision2Read effort. Vision2Read, www.vision2read.com, is a project of the Countywide Vision, www.sbcounty.gov/vision, designed to promote literacy in the county by highlighting literacy-related programs and volunteer opportunities.

This summer, the County Library has a goal of reaching a 10 percent increase in both circulation and participation in the Summer Reading Program, which would put participation at 40,000 individuals.

Reading for rewards is just the beginning. The Library will host various STEM-themed programs including storytime, crafts, discovery time as well as awesome performers who provide exciting, entertaining and educational shows the whole family can enjoy.

The Summer Reading Program is open to all ages so come on in and sign up the entire family. The best part – this program is absolutely free!

The fun doesn’t stop there. The County Library will offer special drawings for children and teens who meet the County Library Reading Challenge. The children’s challenge is to read at least 45 books or the equivalent in pages and minutes to receive a ticket. For teens, the challenge is to read at least eight books or the equivalent to get a ticket. In addition, each child and teen who reach the challenge will receive a ticket for a chance to win a Kindle Fire 7” tablet at their branch library. Also, for every 25 items checked out this summer, receive a ticket for our countywide drawing to win one of the grand prizes which include Samsung Galaxy Tablets, a Nintendo Switch gaming system, a 4 pack of Disneyland tickets and more.

Check out the San Bernardino County Library website, http://www.sbclib.org/, for details on the kick-off events and program information.

The San Bernardino County Library System is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serves a diverse population over a vast geographic area. The County Library system strives to provide equal access to information, technology, programs, and services for all people who call San Bernardino County home.

The library plays a key role in the achievement of the Countywide Vision by contributing to educational, cultural, and historical development of our County community.

For more information on the San Bernardino County Library system, please visit http://www.sbclib.org/ or call (909) 387-2220.

The Countywide Vision’s literacy campaign, Vision2Read, won two 2017 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) in the category of civic education and public information and for its website, Vision2Read.com.

NACo is an organization that honors innovative and effective county government programs that enhance services for residents. Awards are given nationally in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. This year, NACo recognized 605 entries from 108 counties in 29 states.

“It is phenomenal news that Vision2Read is receiving national acclaim from the National Association of Counties,” said San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre. “It’s been exciting to see the collaborative nature for the support of our Vision2Read initiative for the advancement of early literacy across our region. With the implementation of additional early literacy efforts like the countywide Footsteps2Brilliance’s launch this year, I am certain there will be more great news and recognitions for our countywide literacy efforts in the future.”

Alejandre and Cal State University San Bernardino President Tomás D. Morales are leaders of the Countywide Vision project’s Education Element group. The Education Element group is charged with developing strategies to achieve the Vision’s Cradle to Career Goal. The group identified early childhood literacy as a critical first step on the path to success. Reading at grade level by third grade is one of the greatest predictors of children’s success in school, their likelihood of going to college and their future earning potential, according to a 2010 report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The community-driven Countywide Vision project took on literacy as its first public-facing campaign in September 2015 after learning that 69 percent of San Bernardino County third-graders did not meet state English language/literacy standards that year.

The County of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Council of Governments, our local city, school, special district, business and nonprofit partners recognized literacy impacts all elements of our community – public safety, education, wellness, jobs and the economy. An educated workforce will attract employers and investment to our county. Vision2Read promotes existing literacy and reading programs, directing those who need reading assistance to programs, encouraging members of the community to volunteer to teach others to read and raising overall awareness of the importance of reading for academic and economic success.

The San Bernardino County Information Services Department and United Ways of San Bernardino County worked together to design Vision2Read.com and provide a literacy resources and volunteer opportunities portal to the website.

“Our goal is to connect families and their children with the resources for a bright future and it was our pleasure to partner with the Countywide Vision project to do just that,” said Gregory Bradbard, president and CEO of the Inland Empire United Way.

Vision2Read launched at a September 2015 Family Reading Rally where the Molina Foundation donated 50,000 books to schoolchildren. In January 2016, First 5 San Bernardino invested $250,000 to expand the Reach Out and Read program in the county, which provides books to pediatricians to give to their patients to reinforce reading as a critical activity for brain development. In summer 2016, libraries countywide held a summer reading program challenge, increasing the number of participants by 28.3 percent in 2016 with 47,632 people compared to 2015 with 37,122 people. Over the first 15 months, 92,400 people participated in numerous events and reading challenges held at County Library branches.

On Dec. 6, 2016, the Board celebrated the campaign by recognizing 35 Reading Heroes – people nominated by the community for their contributions to literacy.

So far, more than 170,000 people have been connected to literacy programs through the Vision2Read campaign and its events.

The San Bernardino County Probation Department has partnered with The Literacy Club to install Little Free Libraries at two probation buildings in support of the Countywide Vision’s literacy campaign, Vision2Read.
The mobile libraries were unveiled April 24 at the Adult Central Day Reporting Center and the Youth Justice Center, both in San Bernardino. Built to look like dog houses, the libraries are designed to honor San Bernardino County Probation Department K9s, Chester and Cody.
Deputy Chief Probation Officer Tracy Reece attended the unveiling and explained that the Vision2Read campaign, launched in 2015 in San Bernardino County, coincided with Probation’s development of the Little Free Libraries Project. In line with the Countywide Vision, this program focuses attention on the importance of reading, and connects people to available literacy resources and volunteer opportunities in San Bernardino County.
Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Tracy Reece, read to a group of children at the Youth Justice Center afterwards she stated, “The gift of reading never ends, and it is our hope that this provides an added resource for our probationers and their children.”
The Literacy Club, a non-profit organization, built the structures and supplied hundreds of new books for the probation libraries. Youth participating in probation’s Gateway and Building Skills programs will eventually learn how to construct 12 additional libraries to be put in probation buildings throughout San Bernardino County.
“The libraries are a great opportunity for children visiting with their parents to enjoy a book while they wait,” said Jean Chadwick, Executive Director of The Literacy Club. Readers are encouraged to take books home from the selection, which ranges from preschool to high school interests.
The Literacy Club has built over 60 Little Free Libraries in just over three years and given away more than 35,000 brand new books to kids who need them the most. Libraries have been placed in police station lobbies, parks, and community centers throughout Southern California, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Every library is customized for each location, including the theme, color and project name.
More information about The Literacy Club and their libraries can be found at http://theliteracyclub.org.