CINCINNATI, Ohio—With schools resorting to remote learning for the last part of the year, some are concerned with an even greater learning loss over the summer than usual. But found the Cincinnati Library is hoping it can help.


What You Need To Know


  • The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is making sure each student in the community has access to educational resources over the summer

  • The library made educational programs to keep students engaged in math and reading activities

  • The program can be picked up at any open local library branch

​In its first week back open, the Cincinnati Public Library is just happy to see its patrons back. But you won’t see any kids back in the building just yet, because browsing has not been permitted and kids are encouraged to still stay home. But that doesn’t mean the educational summer programs have gone anywhere.

“We talk every summer about the importance of participating in a summer program to help combat the effects of what we call the summer slide," Maggie Killman the Lifelong Learning Manager at the public library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. "Which is learning loss that children and teens between the end of a school year and the beginning of another.”

The summer slide is pretty typical, but with school ending this year remotely, many are worried of a “COVID slide”, meaning an even greater loss of learning for the kids. That’s why the Cincinnati Library upped their educational programming for the summer.

“A lot of the programming that we’re doing over the summer is really focused on trying to support our families across the community and keeping kids engaged with their reading and math skills especially but in a fun way because you know, it’s still summer," Killman said.

The library made age specific booklets with different educational activities for the entire summer. They’re free to pick up from any open local branch along with a free book.

“Making these print physical materials available is really important especially given that not everybody has technology available in their homes," Killman said. "So we wanted to be sure that our community members were able to access resources immediately.”

While school in the fall is still uncertain, the library says they’ll do what they can to keep students around the community on track.

“We’re just doing the best we can to help keep students active and engaged until that time comes," Killman said.