When school lets out, “summer slide” creeps in.

To prevent that, staff at the Elizabeth Taber Library and the Sippican School Library has put together a fun-filled summer-long program, in conjunction with the statewide reading program. “Summer slide” describes the loss of reading skills students experience from June to September.

“The fact is, if students don’t read over the summer – regardless of who they are – they lose ground so they’re starting behind in the fall,” said Sippican School librarian Jessica Barrett.

Together, Barrett, and Elizabeth Taber children’s librarian Rosemary Grey, designed an exciting program, to keep kids interested in reading all summer long.

The program kicks off on June 24 at 2 p.m. with a performance by Ed the Wizard at the Marion Music Hall, made possible by the Marion Cultural Council. More events are planned in keeping with this year’s theme – “Dig into Reading.”

Barrett and Grey spent the year putting together a list of books complimenting the underground theme.

“I think we have a really stellar list this year with a lot of great titles that were recently released,” Barrett said.

Once the list is complete students are brought to the town library, where Grey gives a presentation on what books are available.

“When she talks about the books she’s really passionate about it,” Barrett said. “The kids have really responded to that.”

For the past 15 years, the two libraries have collaborated to promote summer reading.

“The emphasis has been on solidifying our partnership with the public library to find out what kids like to read, whatever it happens to be, and give them the tools to find it,” Barrett said.

The partnership keeps kids reading even when school is not in session.

“It’s really great because we are here for the kids during the school year, but the public library is there year-round and having that connection is crucial,” Barrett said.

Also, for the first time students can track their reading progress online through the Scholastic book company. Students can enter minutes spent reading, collect digital awards, and compare their school’s progress against others across the country.

Should students rank among the nation’s top 20 for minutes read their photograph will be included in Scholastic’s Book of World Records.

“It’s important for kids to see that this is the whole nation coming together to read,” Barrett said.

So far, students have pledged to read for 54,590 minutes

For more information on the summer reading program call the Elizabeth Taber Library 508-748-1252 or visit the library online www.elizabethtaberlibrary.org.