LIFESTYLE
Siouxland Libraries also hosts a summer reading program to challenge the whole family to read together. “The idea is to help students avoid the summer slide, so when they go back to school in the fall, they haven’t lost the art of reading and they’re not as far behind,” explained Neeves. “We do that by making fun challenges and offering prizes for families who do that together.” Outside of programming, Siouxland Libraries offers a world of resources for everyone. Library cards are free to those who live in Minnehaha County or Sioux Falls, and provide access to check out books, DVDs, games, magazines, audiobooks, and more. Other assets, such as computer and wi-fi access, mobile printing, study rooms, and community spaces are available to anyone who walks through the doors. “We try to make it as easy as possible for people to use our services,” said Neeves. He points out working or studying at the library can provide a change of scenery and an alternative to more expensive locations, such as a coffee shop or café. On top of programming and services, Siouxland Libraries offers cardholders free access to online learning databases, such as LinkedIn Learning , JobNow , and Mango Languages .
Literacy Matters
Studies show if a child doesn’t learn to read proficiently by the age of 3, the chances they will graduate are significantly less.
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