The annual summer reading programme at the Invercargill City Library runs from Tuesday, 1 December 2015 to Wednesday 20 January 2016 – and staff expect it will be bigger and better than ever.

Learning Connections Co-ordinator Tracy Pasco said the programme promoted the love of reading and addressed the problem of the ‘summer reading slide’. She said the `summer slide’ related to the loss of academic ground over the holidays, particularly a drop in reading levels. “It affects primarily reluctant readers and lower decile students. Research shows that reading levels can be linked to overall academic success and that the successful acquisition of language through reading is linked to success later on in life.”

The programme has been rebranded The Great Escape. “A book offers the ultimate escape into imaginary worlds that capture you, so that you forget you are reading words,” Mrs Pasco said. “It becomes more about the descriptions and conversations that begin to play out like a movie in your mind.”

She said the The Great Escape catered for all ages. A pre-school programme is being introduced this year in response to customer feedback. “Our children’s booklet has been simplified and offers a variety of reading and creating challenges. Our teens’ programme has been overhauled and there are four challenge cards to choose from (create, digitise, write or read),” she said. “The kids don’t get to have all the summer reading fun – there is an adults’ bingo card running as well!”