Exploring the Impact of a Library Summer Reading Literacy Coach Program on Teen Personal Skills Development

Abstract

In the Summer of 2011 The Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP) hired 90 teenagers into its six-week Summer Reading Literacy Coach Program (SRLCP) as Teen Literacy Coaches (TLCs). Data was collected at Time 1, Time 2 and Time 3. The two study hypotheses were: (1) there will be a significant improvement in TLCs personal development skills from Time 1 to Time 3 and (2) demographic data and program specific skills measured at Time 2 will account for significant variance in each Time 3 personal development skill beyond the Time 1 personal development skills. We did not find support for H1 but did find support for H2. Specific to H2 we found that team-related and higher education interest each had a significant positive impact (p <.05) impact on explaining Time 3 self-awareness; and a marginally significant positive impact (p <.10) impact on explaining Time 3 self-management.