Ward, Milk and Hershey’s: The national launch of Drive to Read @ your library, a program developed by Hershey’s Milk and the American Library Association (ALA) begins its second year to ignite interest in reading among America’s teens and drive them into libraries. With NASCAR driver Ward Burton at the wheel, the program is designed to connect with teens by aligning libraries with one of the nation’s well-known NASCAR drivers and Hersehy’s Milk. According to the most recent reading survey and test scores gathered from the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP)*, reading scores have made no significant statistical gains since the 1970s. The report also suggests that a smaller percentage of 13- to 17-year-olds read daily for fun today than in 1971.. The next NAEP reading study is expected for release in Spring 2003. The purpose of Drive to Read @ your library is to encourage young adults nationwide to discover the value of libraries, to check out and read books for knowledge and entertainment, and to discover how books bring a world of opportunity to today’s teens. The Drive to Read @ your library program calls for teens to read one of the “Best Books for Young Adults” for 2002, which are selected by librarians through the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association.. Teens are encouraged to submit an entry on a favorite literary hero through essay, monologue, poem, mural, video or other creative means. Teens are allowed to work in teams of up to four or alone, but once the entry has been completed, they need to check in with their school or public librarian to ask him/her to sponsor the contest entry. The lucky teen or team will win a trip to Miami in Spring 2003 to meet program spokesperson Ward Burton and enjoy the weekend at the beach. For all of the program details, interested teens should race to www.hersheysmilk.com.(PR)(11-20-2002) (11-19-2002)
