by Public Information
comments open from August 25 until September 13

Early this summer, Young Adult Librarians at Jefferson County Public Library issued a challenge to teen readers: help us meet our Summer Reading Club goals, and we’ll dye our hair the color of your choice. They kept that promise! JCPL Young Adult Librarians started Tuesday, August 24, looking like stereotypical librarians, and now they look like the rock stars they are – with blue, green, mauve and purple hair!

Young Adult Librarians at JCPL came up with this idea to motivate teens to sign up for – and complete – Summer Reading Clubs. It also helped the librarians meet their own goal: to increase the number of teen readers at their respective libraries who complete the Summer Reading Club program.

“We’re passionate about helping kids gain solid reading skills,” said Jenny Butler, Young Adult Information Services Librarian, Golden Public Library. “Reading is a foundational skill that sets the stage for life-long learning; it’s good for kids to get an early start.”

“It’s important for kids to keep up their reading skills during the summer months,” added Arra Katona, Young Adult Information Services Librarian, Lakewood Public Library. “Studies have documented a 'summer slide' in reading skills once school lets out each spring. Kids who don’t read over the summer can lose the equivalent of about two months of school during the summer, and the loss compounds every year.”

Six Young Adult Information Services Librarians met their goals, including:
• Amy Denniff, Edgewater Public Library
• Arra Katona, Lakewood Public Library
• Jenna Obee, Standley Lake Public Library
• Jenny Butler, Golden Public Library
• Rene Yaws, Evergreen Public Library
• Shelly Belleau, Arvada Public Library

When asked about having blue, purple, green and mauve hair for the next four to six weeks, the librarians were united in their response: “If purple hair helps kids to read more, then we should all have purple hair.”

Thanks to the Jefferson County Library Foundation for its support of Summer Reading Club, and thanks to Paul Mitchell The School Denver for donating their stylist skills.

BEFORE

JCPL Librarians Rene Yaws, Arra Katona, Shelley Belleau and Jenna Obee

AFTER

JCPL Librarians model their new rock star look: Jenny Butler, Arra Katone, Amy Denniff, Rene Yaws, Jenna Obee, Shelly Belleau