As state librarian and a former English teacher, encouraging and promoting early literacy is one of my top priorities. I have traveled around the state promoting literacy and reading initiatives and encouraging children and adults to get excited about reading. The state library continues to support the program because it helps local libraries to develop and extend the literacy skills of New Jersey's young people. Without a doubt, reading is the most important skill needed for academic success. Studies on summer reading show that the number of books read is consistently related to academic gains, and that reading as a leisure activity increases comprehension, vocabulary and reading speed. That is why summer reading programs are so important. They help children not only maintain their skills, but to improve them and spark a greater interest in reading.

Each year the Summer Reading Program has a theme, which many libraries adopt. This year, young readers will enjoy getting "bugged," as the themes are "Catch the Reading Bug" for children and "Metamorphosis" for teens. Public libraries all over our state will be scheduling activities for children and teens from mid-June through August, not only to entertain them with stories and activities about in sects, such as ladybugs and fireflies, but also to educate them about the nature and benefits of these small creatures. Using their attraction to bugs as a springboard, we hope to bring more young people into our libraries, at tract new users, promote the services and materials our libraries offer the public, and offer children and teens a valuable social experience through many different activities, such as book discussion groups, crafts or the Monmouth County Library's Battle of the Bands.

As more children and teens make their local library the place to go this summer, it will give parents a chance to get acquainted with what the library has to offer them, such as access to a variety of newspapers and magazines, audio books, business databases, movies and meeting areas for local groups. It will also give parents a chance to talk to their children about what they are reading and what is interesting them and tying it to other activities. If your child enjoys books about baseball, go to a game together. If a book your child reads has been made into a movie, watch it together and discuss the differences.

We know that for teens, reading leads to success. It expands their vocabulary, improves writing skills, increases their knowledge and expands their view of the world. Another big dividend is getting a good score on the verbal section of a college admissions test. No other activity builds the vocabulary and comprehension skills needed to do well on those tests as well as reading.

Who would have guessed that so many benefits could come from a summer reading program? Participating libraries are registering children and teens for their programs early this month. Check to see what your local library is doing. I encourage all parents to look into this great program with their children. It just might result in a "bugging me-free" summer and better grades in school next year.

Norma E. Blake, Library Journal's 2008 librarian of the year, is New Jersey state librarian.