Library manager urges residents to join summer reading; praises juvenile court partnership requiring library cards and recreation memberships

At Monday’s council meeting, library manager Ned Hager Brim promoted the GrossC library’s summer reading program, which began the previous Saturday and offers free books and prizes for children who read during June and July.

"I would like to encourage everybody to make plans to stop by anytime in June or July to get a free book and start reading to get prizes," Brim said, urging parents and community members to bring reluctant readers to the library.

Brim also described an initiative by Hamilton County Juvenile Court that will require some juveniles appearing before the court to obtain membership to a neighborhood Cincinnati recreation center or YMCA, present a copy of recent school grades at hearings, and obtain a library card. Brim said the initiative has received criticism but called it "a great idea to encourage troubled youth in our communities to be good members of the community." He added that the library will welcome youths and support their participation in reading programming.

In his remarks Brim cited literacy-related statistics, saying it is estimated that "85% of juveniles who interact with the juvenile court system are functionally low literate," and referenced a Johns Hopkins study linking improved third-grade reading proficiency with reduced neighborhood homicide rates.

Council did not take action on the juvenile court program; Brim’s comments were part of the public-comment period and were presented as community input. Council members thanked Brim for the announcement and encouraged residents to participate.