Summer reading is a big part of my job as a children's librarian. Even as much work as it is, it is still something I look forward to (please don't let that get out to some of the library staff - I could get flogged!). This year we are doing something new. Our state library has contracted with Evanced Solutions to provide their Summer Reader software free of charge to libraries in New Jersey.
Summer Reader has all the components of our traditional summer reading program in which program participants kept track of their reading using a paper log. Patrons register for the program online and create a username and password in order to log in. Their reading logs are online and the program can be configured to track time read or number of books or pages read. The program even notifies the patron once they have qualified for a prize. Patrons can write book reviews and create a list of books they want to read based on others' reviews. The program home page has space for messages, such as promotion for upcoming events, etc. and a section for links, for example to our online calendar.
The program was somewhat easy to configure for our program specifics, although there were a few bugs I didn't get worked out until two days before the start of the summer reading program. There is a public interface and a staff interface. On the public side it is quite easy to use, but more complicated on the staff end. One issue in particular that I have noticed is that recording the awarding of prizes can be confusing.
My biggest concern is that the program does not seem to be catching on. Since this is the first year we have used it we decided to use it only for the teens and to also offer them the traditional program. Where last year we had a total of 175 teens in the summer reading program (traditional program) throughout the system, this year three weeks into the program there are only ten teens signed up for the online program and most of them have not entered new information in their logs since the first week.