Hawaii’s Library Director Richard Burns tells the Student Achievement Committee that the library system and Department of Education are collaborating more closely than ever.

While the library system’s mission is to the entire state population, its goals for childhood literacy certainly overlap with the school system’s goals.

Toward that end, Burns’ people are expanding the summer reading program to emphasize lower elementary and pre-kindergarten aged students.

“We just completed our most successful summer reading program ever in terms of participation and books read,” Burns says. “We’re looking to expand on that, and as we develop programs throughout the year, we’re looking at student achievement and the academic impact of the programs we’ve provided.”

Another library initiative on the horizon: A poetry program.