10/01/2017
In 2013, the Chicago Public Library (CPL) partnered with the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) to revamp the library's summer reading program, which typically had been successful with white middle-class female participants. Inspired by data documenting the summer reading slide, McChesney, a librarian at CPL, and Wunar, director of community initiatives at the Center for Science Education at MSI, wanted to ensure that the library's program would meet the needs of children and families in all Chicago communities. In this clear, detailed narrative, the authors describe a unique collaboration that began with the knowledge that the two institutions shared a single goal: summertime outreach emphasizing STEAM and Illinois's Common Core curriculum. The result was the Challenge program, which blends reading with hands-on science activities. The authors acknowledge that the initiative was a big change and suggest ideas for making a similar transformation more manageable. Text boxes throughout highlight different librarians' experiences. McChesney and Wunar provide program ideas and sample evaluation forms. The bibliography and the lists of vendors and stores are useful. VERDICT Librarians looking for ways to enrich the nonfiction content of summer programming and to partner with another educational institution will find beneficial strategies from this accessible resource.—Jackie Gropman, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, VA
