AUSTIN, Texas — School may be out, but it does not mean learning has to end.
- Schools host mobile libraries
- Trying to tackle the summer slide
- Giving students access to books
Local school districts are looking to beat the so-called summer slide. Educators say students’ reading and math skills decline when classes are out of session.
Shannon Pearce, the acquisitions librarian for the Austin Independent School District, said for many students, the school library and the classrooms are the only places they have access to books.
“Over the summer, if kids don’t use their academic brain, if they aren’t reading, they aren’t doing math, then you lose that kind of stamina for doing those tasks. When you go back to school, it takes a while to get back up to speed, you lose that time,” Pierce said.
Pearce said it does not matter what kids are reading, as long as they keep doing so. Austin ISD’s Buford the Book Bus tour is once again making stops across the district this summer, by providing free books to children of all ages, in English and Spanish languages.
Other districts across Central Texas are also working to increase access to books. Manor Independent School District officials have converted a school bus and turned it into a mobile library filled with books, iPads, and reading spaces. Manor ISD officials say there are not many community spaces for families and children in town, so they will also have their school libraries open for certain hours during the week. On Tuesday, the Reading on the Go bus made a stop in the Stonewater neighborhood beside the pool.
“We don’t have a public library here in Manor. What better way than being able to retrofit a space than a bus, that you can mobilize across the community,” Manor ISD Superintendent Royce Avery said. “Kids can go swimming for awhile, they can come back and read books for awhile, and vice versa. It gives some flexibility and a space where kids will feel safe. There’s food in the bus, as well. They have opportunities to read a nice book.”
Meanwhile, Round Rock Independent School District is hosting pop-up libraries in June and July. Leander Independent School District also provides sports and academic summer camps for kids.
Austin ISD Buford the Book Bus 2019 Schedule:
June
All programs are from 10-11:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, June 11, Widén Elementary, 5605 Nuckols Crossing Austin, TX 78744
- Wednesday, June 12, Lanier Early College High School, 1201 Payton Gin Road Austin, TX 78758
- Tuesday, June 18 Travis Heights Elementary, 2010 Alameda Drive Austin, TX 78704
- Wednesday, June 19 Reagan Early College High School, 7104 Berkman Drive Austin, TX 78752
- Thursday, June 20 Walnut Creek Elementary, 401 W. Braker Lane Austin, TX 78753
- Tuesday, June 25 Uphaus Early Childhood Center, 5200 Freidrich Lane Austin, TX 78744
- Wednesday, June 26 Ortega Elementary, 1135 Garland Ave. Austin, TX 78721
July
All programs are from 10-11:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, July 16 Perez Elementary, 7500 S. Pleasant Valley Road Austin, TX 78744
- Wednesday, July 17 Padron Elementary, 2011 W. Rundberg Lane Austin, TX 78758
- Thursday, July 18 Hart Elementary, 8301 Furness St. Austin, TX 78753
- Tuesday, July 23 Harris Elementary, 1711 Wheless Lane Austin, TX 78723
- Wednesday, July 24 Galindo Elementary, 3800 S. Second St. Austin, TX 78704
- Thursday, July 25, Brooke Elementary, 3100 East 4th St. Austin, TX 78702
Manor ISD Reading on the Go 2019 Schedule:
- Mondays - Presidential Meadows Elementary School 9-11:30, Shadowglen clubhouse by the pool from 1-3
- Tuesdays - Blake Manor Elementary School 9:00-11:30, Stonewater neighborhood by the pool from 1-3
- Wednesdays - Walmart parking lot from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursdays - Decker Middle School 9-11:30, Oak Meadows Elementary School 1-3