LibGuides: School Age & Teen Services for Pennsylvania Libraries: Pennsylvania Summer Library Program

Pennsylvania Summer Library Program

Building Equity-Based Summers (BEBS) empowers libraries to design summer services that are built on a foundation of equity and designed with the community to ensure systemically marginalized groups engage in library services in new ways.

In 2020, the California State Library (CSL) and the California Library Association (CLA) made a commitment to work with library staff across the state to learn the why, how, and what of equity-based summer services. In order to serve communities successfully, libraries must re-envision summer services and traditional activities that focus on those who already visit the library on a regular basis. This shift requires libraries to work with community members and organizations to develop services and programs that highlight assets and challenges of systemically non-dominant communities. This is often done through co-design, a process by which people design with each other instead of for each other.

Fourteen libraries engaged in deep conversations about equity and about library summer services and communities. Co-designers learned more about what it takes to lay a foundation of equity in summer services and began to consider how to train other library staff in this work.  As a result, a Workbook was developed to help more libraries engage in equity-based summers design and implementation.  In 2022, CLA was awarded funding by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Pennsylvania joined the BEBS project for its second year, and in early 2024, we worked closely with library staff from five different libraries to intentionally reimagine summer services with equity at the beginning, center, and post-summer celebration. In 2025, we welcomed three additional libraries to engage.

BEBS is the foundation for summer roundtables, the summer showcase, and the summer impact report.

BEBS outlines Equity Principles and Indicators of Summer Services.

Equitable Design- Summer services are designed and implemented with community voice
Equitable Decision-Making- Summer services library decision-making processes are embedded in an equity-based community mindset
Equitable Opportunities- Summer services expand opportunities for learning and connection
Equitable Engagement- Summer services actively engage systemically marginalized youth, families, and communities

Learn more about the BEBS IMLS project.

Visit the BEBS website

Check out the BEBS Podcast

2025 Collaborative Summer Library Program Theme: Color Our World : (Colorea Nuestro Mundo) – Art (Mike Mullan)

Collaborative Summer Library Program Resources for Libraries

Collaborative Summer Library Program Summer Symposium

Looking for access to the Collaborative Summer Library Program manual? Reach out to Corri Hines (cohines@pa.gov) for more info.

Interested in being featured in the Collaborative Summer Library Program Manual? Submit a programming idea!

Stay connected with the Collaborative Summer Library Program by signing up for their mailing list.

The Pennsylvania Summer Library Program Showcase on the Pennsylvania Library Staff Academy celebrates exemplary and innovative library programming that creates value, equity, and joy for all ages in Pennsylvania. Through this online showcase, library staff have access to Summer information and resources developed by library staff from across the Commonwealth. Contributors share their expertise with you on their programming experiences from their summer programs and describe a variety of engaging events and activities for all ages.

Summer 2025 Showcase

Past Showcases

If you don't have a PA Library Staff Academy account, you can request access by clicking on this lin k.

Summer 2026 Roundtables will be announced soon! Check back here for updates!

Data collection for the Summer 2025 Impact Report will open for live submission via Microsoft Forms starting Friday, August 1, 2025, and will be open through Friday, September 19, 2025. An announcement via the Compendium will be made when the data collection begins. The Compendium is BLD’s primary communication channel. If you don’t already subscribe, please do so to ensure you receive the most up-to-date information.

A preview copy of the Pennsylvania Summer Library Program 2025 Impact Report is now available.

The Pennsylvania Summer Library Program Impact Report underwent a series of revisions by the Pennsylvania Summer Advisory Committee. Please note that the format of the impact report differs significantly from the previous years.

This project is made possible by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

The Pennsylvania Summer Library Program 2025 Impact Report is divided into three sections. At the end of each section, you will have the option to submit as is or to complete subsequent sections.

Section one covers summer essentials. Completion of this section contributes to our celebration of your library’s work.
Section two covers excellent and equitable summer library programs. Completion of this section will make your library eligible for consideration for the Pennsylvania Sumer Library Program Summer 2026 Showcase.
Section three covers library reflections. Completion of this section will make your library eligible for future engagement and professional development opportunities such as Building Equity-Based Summers.

The purpose of the Pennsylvania Summer Library Program 2025 Impact Report is to

Celebrate the joy of equitable and inclusive summer library programs that center belonging in communities.
Select interview candidates for the Pennsylvania Summer Library Program 2026 Showcase on the Pennsylvania Library Staff Academy.
Communicate the value of summer library services and programs to the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Summer Library Program 2025 Impact Report completion information

The completion of this impact report is voluntary and not mandatory. We hope you feel empowered to share the good work your library has done for your community.
Every question on this impact report is optional. It’s okay to skip questions or enter “N/A”
This impact report is not used to determine eligibility for State Aid or as part of standards requirements.
Although we do not collect program and attendance data in this impact report, please continue to track this data in order to accurately complete the Pennsylvania Public Library Annual Report as well as for your own use in developing local community impact reports.
Multiple responses per library outlet (including main libraries, branches, and bookmobiles) are welcome. We’re interested in hearing perspectives of all staff involved in the summer learning program.
You will need to enter responses in one session. Microsoft Forms will not save your responses if you close the browser window without submitting. You are encouraged to use the “Pennsylvania Summer Library Program 2025 Impact Report- Preview Questions” PDF document to detail your answers before inputting into the impact report form.
The data collected in this impact report may be shared with District Consultants, Youth Services District Consultants/Coordinators, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Suggestions for completing the Pennsylvania Summer Library Program 2025 Impact Report

We value all perspectives on summer library programs. In order to get a full 360° view of your program, we encourage you to review and reflect on the impact report questions as a full staff. Discuss and share what everyone observed during the summer and add those stories to your impact report. Multiple responses per library outlet are welcome.
Consider collecting feedback from your community about your library’s summer program. We encourage you to collect the information that you find most valuable for understanding and communicating the impact of your summer programming. The Office of Commonwealth Libraries no longer supplies a standardized survey for summer library participants.
Utilize your responses to this impact report to develop your own advocacy efforts to take to community leaders and decision-makers.
Please note that the questions in the “Pennsylvania Summer Library Program 2025 Impact Report- Preview Questions” PDF are not numbered. This is intentional as the Microsoft Form will have branching, and based on your responses, the numbers may change.

Questions and comments can be sent to the Bureau of Library Development at: https://pa-gov.libanswers.com/

Collaborative Summer Library Program Libraries and Summer Food Resources
The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) partners with libraries to provide summer meals and snacks for children, supporting both nutrition and summer reading programs.
Feeding Your Community: Summer Meals at Libraries
Webinar from United States Department of Agriculture and Collaborative Summer Library Program with a panel of librarians from across the country. Learn the basics of SFSP and ideas for how to participate.
No Kid Hungry
No Kid Hungry's Center for Best Practices is comprised of program, policy, and innovation experts committed to ending hunger in the US by providing information and resources to stakeholders, conducting programmatic and policy research and analysis, and testing promising ideas to identify emerging best practices.
Read Up! A CSLP Mini-Manual for Summer Feeding Sites
Collaborative Summer Library Program's easy-to-implement enrichment activities for your summer feeding site that support reading, creativity, and fun.
Summer Food Service Program, Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free, nutritious meals to children aged 18 and under during the summer months when school is not in session. The program is federally funded by the USDA and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
SUN Meals (Summer Food Service Program)
The USDA's SUN Meals program offers free summer meals for children 18 and under. These meals are provided at community locations such as schools, parks, and community centers, with no application process required.

Accelerate Summer from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) and National Summer Learning Association
IMLS-funded collaboration of the NSLA and the Urban Libraries Council to research how public libraries are delivering summer learning activities. The findings point to the importance of participatory activities, community engagement, partnerships, and support from local officials.
Adopting a Summer Learning Approach for Increased Impact: a YALSA Position Paper
A 2016 publication that calls on libraries to “expand their efforts beyond summer reading in order to identify and meet the particular needs of the youth in their community”, including building workplace skills, improving English language skills, and offering safe spaces for creativity.
Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading Lists
The We Are Kid Lit Collective selects books by and about BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) for a curated summer reading list that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and intersecting identities.
Learning Beyond: 21st Century Summer and Out-Of-School Time Toolkit
A 2022 publication from the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC), supports the integration of equity-building and co-design into library program planning. It also considers effective evaluation and the role of reflection.
More than Just Summer Reading: The Shift to “Summer Learning”
This article highlights how libraries are transforming summer reading programs into hands-on learning experiences to help address the achievement gap for children, especially from low-income communities.
National Summer Learning Association
The NSLA connects summer learning program providers and stakeholders with tools, resources, and expertise to improve program quality, generate support, and increase youth access and participation.
StarNet STEM Activity Clearinghouse
The STAR Library Network (STAR Net) is a hands-on learning network that provides STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities and resources for libraries and their communities.