State schools Chancellor Robert Bennett says children who take time to read books over the summer have an easier time maintaining their educational gains until school starts in the fall.

New York's free Summer Reading Program involved 1.35 million children last summer through 1,100 public libraries.

The program encourages reading, but doesn't require a certain number of books or narrow the choices of reading. Instead, librarians will help children find books that interest them.

More information, in nine languages, is available through the State Library Web site (www.nysl.nysed.gov) under statewide summer reading and through the Web site http://www.summerreadingnys.org.
   
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