Reading is a year-round activity. The Library participates in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten for the little ones and provides the annual Summer Reading Program to keep young readers engaged and reading in between school years.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

From 1000 Books Before Kindergarten:

Numerous studies have established that by age three (3), a child’s brain has reached 80 percent of its adult volume. The brain develops most rapidly during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. A toddler’s brain creates up to two million new connections every second. Early experiences and interactions are a key factor in a child’s brain development. The ability to learn language skills is greatest before the age of six (6). Early literacy skills have a lifelong impact on educational and occupational success. The most important predictor of school success is being read to at home during early childhood

Finally, if you read just one book a day with your child, you’ll reach 1,000 books in less than three years.

The Goleta Valley Library happily participates with this very important program. Just come to the Reference Desk and get reading records for your young children. After you read 100 books together, bring in the reading record and staff will give your child a reading stamper and a new reading chart. If your child likes the same book night after night, it counts every time you read it! Repetition is a great thing for early listeners.

Summer Reading Program

Every summer, the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries provide a Summer Reading Program, which encourages children to read and offers prizes they can earn as they reach different milestones during the program.

Inspiring our community – especially children – to get excited about reading is one of the main goals we hope to accomplish through the Summer Reading Program. Young people who read over vacation breaks from school have a much better chance of staying at grade level, or even improving their reading skills, during the summer months. Plus, a reading habit that is established early can become a lifelong practice that improves literacy in the community overall.