Dare to explore: keeping Auckland's children reading and learning over summer

Dare to explore is the Auckland Libraries summer reading adventure aimed at keeping 5-13 year olds reading and learning over the summer holidays. The program launched in December 2011, featuring six different challenges and reading adventure themes. Over 6000 children took part in the adventure in its first year. Developing this region wide program within the recently amalgamated Auckland required new thinking to achieve user centric design and a whole of staff focus for delivery. Verbatim feedback from parents and teachers indicated that sustained library engagement made a positive impact on reading fluency. Other measures of success included increased website visits and high page view rankings. As a result of the program, 600 children joined the library as personal members. What was learned from the first year is now informing the refresh of the program and the evaluation methodology for year two. Edited version of a paper presented at the conference 'Learning for all: public libraries in Australia and New Zealand Melbourne 13-14 September'. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]