(Dover, DE ) Delaware First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney, Delaware Libraries, and United Way of Delaware join the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) in launching National Summer Learning Week, a celebration dedicated to elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe and healthy every summer; ensuring young people return to school ready to succeed.

Delawareans can embrace summer learning fun with a high-energy show for children and their families featuring Antonio Rocha, Storyteller, co-sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8 at 10 a.m. Also, on Thursday, July 9 at 6 p.m., families will have a chance to celebrate their love of reading with DJ Mike during Get Delaware Reading’s Family Breaks. Plus, many more programs will be offered online by Delaware libraries throughout the week and all summer long!  View the Calendar

“This summer, more than ever, it’s important to keep children engaged in learning in ways that are creative and fun,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. “Our libraries and their partners—including families, the most important partners of all—are finding innovative ways to appeal to kids’ curiosity and energy this summer. A library card can help—a lot.”

At the onset of the pandemic, libraries launched online library card registration for eBook check out, and now Curbside Check Out is available for print books.

“For more than 40 years—for generations of Delawareans—Delaware libraries have been cultivating reading and learning passions, in multiple ways and in multiple formats,” said State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman. “Whatever your interest, whatever your talent, the library supports it.”

“Summer learning is even more critical today than it was yesterday. Students are faced with a growing achievement gap due to COVID and the summer slide. Now is a great time for students and their families to continue to engage in activities that nurture a love of learning, especially reading,” said Schlonn Hawkins, director of Get Delaware Reading, presented by United Way of Delaware. “United Way is excited to be a part of programs that will help build the love of learning within our students as they prepare for the upcoming school year.”

For a full list of programs or to register for the Summer Library Reading Program visit delawarelibraries.org/summerreading. Delaware libraries encourage Delawareans of all ages to track their reading and learning during the summer and throughout life.  A variety of tips, tools, and techniques for tracking individual interests are available on the Unleash Inner Genius guide.

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Summer arts programs are supported by the Delaware Division of Libraries and, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division of Arts promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com. The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks; programs/workshops; community partnerships; and more.

Founded in 1946, United Way of Delaware (UWDE) works to advance the common good by focusing on three key areas: Early Education, College and Career Readiness and Financial Stability. UWDE is engaged in a long-term strategy to eliminate the root causes of Delaware’s most pressing social problems in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties. UWDE works collectively with businesses, government, social service agencies, academic groups, community organizations and concerned individuals to establish positive, long-lasting solutions for today and into the future. For more information or to support UWDE, visit www.uwde.org, follow us on Twitter @UnitedWayDE, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayofDelaware, or call  (302) 573-3717.

The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) is the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement gap by increasing access to high-quality summer learning opportunities. NSLA recognizes and disseminates what works in summer learning, develops and delivers capacity-building offerings and convenes and empowers key actors to embrace summer learning as a solution for equity and excellence in education. For more information, visit www.summerlearning.org.

(Dover, DE) Delaware’s First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney will host a virtual kick-off of the 2020 statewide Summer Library Reading Program, Imagine Your Story, on Wednesday, June 17 at 10 a.m. with State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman. The launch is co-sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts and will feature a virtual performance by Turtle Dance Music with Matt Mazar.

“Promoting foundational language skills is a critical part of giving all of Delaware’s children a ‘first chance’ to succeed,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney, who convenes the  First Chance Delaware initiative and serves as honorary chair of the Delaware Library Card Campaign and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library pilot program. “The library habit supports educational success and also supports strong families, with two-generation programs and access to a range of services. I’m very proud of my Delaware library card, because of what it does for me and what it represents for our community.”

The virtual kick-off can be accessed at the Delaware Libraries website, along with details about the program and registration.

Delaware libraries are noted for hosting the longest running statewide public library summer reading program in the nation. Now in its 42nd year, the annual Summer Library Reading Program provides early literacy programs to help children build and develop reading and language skills; teen programs that motivate teens to read and discuss literature; and programs that encourage adults to experience the joy of reading.

“Librarians help to generate a passion for reading and learning,” said Governor John Carney. “A healthy reading habit motivates, inspires, encourages creativity and prevents the summer slide.”

“For more than 40 years — for generations of Delawareans — Delaware libraries have been cultivating reading and learning passions,” said State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman. “Whatever your interest, whatever your talent, the library supports it.”

Young “pre-readers” (children who can’t yet read) can get credit for books that are read to them. Throughout the summer, online this year, libraries provide a variety of fun and educational arts, cultural, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs to encourage reading and spark curiosity.

Registration for the Summer Library Reading Program at all public libraries is free online. Incentive badges are awarded based on reading and activity milestones.  Delaware libraries encourage Delawareans of all ages to track their reading and learning during the summer and throughout life.  A variety of tips, tools, and techniques for tracking individual interests are available on the Unleash Inner Genius guide.

Visit the Summer Library Reading Program for the schedule of online events throughout the summer. The Performing Arts component of the program, including Turtle Dance Music, is sponsored in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts.

About:

Summer arts programs are supported by the Delaware Division of Libraries and, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division of Arts promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com

The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks; programs/workshops; community partnerships; and more.

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DOVER, Del – This Census Day, April 1, marked the start of the countdown to the 2020 U.S. Census. The Census is the once-a-decade population and housing count, and an accurate census count is critically important to Delaware in multiple ways:

• The results of the Census determine how many representatives each state gets in Congress and are used to draw Congressional and state legislative districts
• Federal agencies use the census results to distribute more than $675 billion in funds each year
• Communities rely on census statistics to plan for a variety of needs including new roads, schools, libraries and emergency services
• Businesses use census data to determine where to locate

Delaware loses more than $2,000 in federal funds each year for every person left uncounted by the Census. That gap amounts to approximately $10 million lost annually that could have been used to support Delaware services and communities.

Earlier this year, Governor John Carney established the Complete Count Commission, chaired by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, to assist with the 2020 Census. As recommended by the U.S. Census Bureau, State Complete Count Commissions will help raise awareness and encourage full participation from Delawareans and make sure everyone is counted.

“The 2020 census begins exactly one year from today, and the Complete Count Commission is committed to counting each and every single Delawarean,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long. “Our libraries are playing a critical role in helping us achieve a 100% success rate by providing the resources to count every one of our residents in each county, city, and town to ensure that Delaware receives the resources we need, and deserve.”

For the first time, the Census Bureau is allowing all households to submit their 2020 census responses online. Those unsure of how to complete the census online can visit their local Delaware public library to:

• Use free wifi at any of Delaware’s 33 public libraries
• Get answers to questions
• Get assistance filling out forms

“We are so excited to partner with Delaware libraries for the 2020 Census,” said Devon Reed, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau. “With the digital nature of this decade’s Census – whether it’s applying for census jobs, working as census employees in local neighborhoods, or completing the Census on April 1, 2020 – all 33 libraries throughout the state will play a pivotal role in the success of the 2020 Census count. Making our libraries a one stop shop for all things Census gets us that much closer to Delaware’s most complete and accurate decennial count yet!”

“Delaware Libraries are a key part of the social infrastructure, and are standing by to assist and help ensure that every Delawarean is counted and receives all of the services that they need to achieve their full potential,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian.

PHOTO CAPTION: Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, center, marked Census Day on April 1 at the Dover Public Library with, from left to right, Margie Cyr, director of the Dover Library; Devon Reed, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau; Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian; Fred Neil, Dover City Councilman; and Dr. Courtney Stewart, Deputy Secretary of State.

DOVER  – The Division of Public Health (DPH) invites parents with children from birth to 5 years old to participate in its first Books, Balls and Blocks event, which will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 13, at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center in New Castle, Delaware.

Presented in partnership with DPH’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems program, Help Me Grow Delaware, United Way, Delaware 211, the Delaware Division of Libraries, and New Castle County Public Libraries, the event is fun, educational and free. Parents should plan to stay for the duration.

While children engage in games and activities at six different stations, parents learn how these interactions help stimulate their child’s healthy development. While the children are playing, parents will complete the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). The ASQ-3 is a reliable, valid, and easy-to-use tool recommended to screen young children for developmental delays.

Originally created by Help Me Grow Utah, the Books, Balls and Blocks model is a fun and educational way to provide developmental screenings to children within the first five years of life. The model provides opportunities for families to engage with their children through a variety of play-based activities that promote child development in areas such as early literacy, fine motor skills, gross motor skills and social skills. It also provides families with the resources they need to monitor their children as they meet developmental milestones and how they can get help if they have questions or concerns.

During the event, professionals from Help Me Grow Delaware will administer the ASQ-3 and then share the results with the parents to learn if his or her child’s development:
• Appears to be on schedule.
• Needs to be monitored and the child provided with learning activities.
• Requires further assessment by a professional.

Parents will receive child development resources, new fun playtime activity ideas and a goodie bag. Other community resources will be on site.

Why should children be screened?
• To understand what milestones your children can and should be reaching as they grow.
• To be able to better identify your children’s strengths.
• To give you ways to talk to your doctor or other professionals about your concerns with your children.
• To track your children’s progress over time – a simple way to “journal” their milestone achievement.
• To give you new ideas to use in play with your children and make this time more useful in their development.

What is a developmental screener?
• A tool that has been tested by researchers to ensure that it is measuring developmental milestones seen in all children as they grow.
• Questionnaires meant to be used by all parents and providers to monitor children as they grow.
• A tool to capture patterns of development in children early, helping increase better outcomes for later life, if action is taken.

What is the Ages & Stages Questionnaire?
• Help Me Grow Delaware uses the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) for general development and social-emotional screening.
• It is to be completed by the parent; parents are the experts of their children.

For more information about the Books, Balls and Blocks event, call 302-740-8447 or visit http://dethrives.com/events/event/books-balls-blocks.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

It’s never too early to read or be read to. And to help build the reading, learning, and library habit, Delaware’s First Lady, Tracey Quillen Carney, announced the My First Delaware Library Card and the kids Super Library Card this summer. These new library cards target babies, toddlers, and preschoolers (birth to 5 years old) and school age children (6 to 12).

The new cards are designed to encourage independent reading and book selection and parent/caregiver interaction with children, reading aloud together and talking about book choices and children’s interests. “Reading aloud and talking with babies and children builds skills in communication, listening, memory, and language development – skills that correlate with so many good outcomes later in life, including high-school graduation,” First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney said.

The My First Delaware Library Card features a baby version of Delaware’s state bird, the Blue Hen. And the Super Library Card features superhero children. Cards are currently being rolled out and they will be available at all public libraries by the end of September.

A tracker card comes with each of the new library cards to help develop the library habit. Get your tracker card stamped at every library visit and after 10 visits receive a prize! My First Delaware Library Card members will receive a growth chart after 10 visits; Super Library Card members will receive super hero zipper pulls.

Frequent, habitual use of the new library cards will help children “unleash super powers”!  “The library habit is about raising readers, as well as parent-child engagement and access to other services that support strong and healthy families,” said State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman.

Both cards are free for any child living in Delaware. To register, the parent or guardian should bring their child to their local library and present a photo I.D.  For more information visit delawarelibraries.org/kidscards

About:
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks; programs/workshops; community partnerships; and more.