All Ohio's public library's offer books and storytime programs to the parents of infants and young children in their communities. However, public libraries that participate in Ready to Read training give parents and childcare providers the skills to prepare young children to enter kindergarten ready to read. The public library programs listed below are coordinated by librarians who are certified in the PLA/ALSC Every Child Ready to Read® @ Your Library® program focusing on the six early literacy skills and the importance of dialogic reading.

Sample sites from Ohio public libraries

Cleveland Public Library - On The Road To Reading
Through a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the State Library of Ohio, the Cleveland Public Library has been implementing a program called "On the Road to Reading". The library purchased a van with the six skills painted on the outside which is being used to deliver materials to early childhood centers in the Cleveland area. The van is also used for special events such as parent nights at these centers. On the Road to Reading is part of the Mobile Services Department and began service right after Labor Day, 2007. Programming based on the 6 early childhood literacy skills of "Every Child Ready to Read" is presented at selected early childhood centers, and books are left with the teachers for them to use with the children between library visits. In addition, the librarian and library assistants visit pediatric waiting rooms to inform parents about "Every Child Ready to Read" skills and the importance of using books with children. The program has been well received and has reached parents and their young children across the Cleveland area.

Kirtland Public Library is ready to read
Kirtland Public Library, a small public library in Lake County, has taken 'Every Child Ready to Read' to heart. Children's Librarian Beth Bahr presented a program to local preschool teachers and other caregivers to help them identify the six pre-reading skills children must learn in order to learn to read. Her program was so successful that she was invited to give a presentation to some of the Early Childhood Development classes at Lakeland Community College.

Kirtland Public Library holds eight storytimes each week. Mrs. Bahr has incorporated a variety of tips and tricks into the storytimes in order to reinforce the skills with the children. She also prepares small flyers with information about the skills to distribute to caregivers.

In an effort to reach a larger audience, we post 'Every Child Ready to Read" information on our website, www.kirtland.lib.oh.us.
For more information contact:
Jane Carle, Director, Kirtland Public Library 440-256-7323 or jcarle@kirtland.lib.oh.us
OR
Beth Bahr, Children's Librarian at Kirtland Public Library, bbahr@kirtland.lib.oh.us

Sandusky Library
Sandusky Library has expanded the storytime experience with ALA's Every Child Ready to Read Program. The relationship between the skills with which children enter school and their later academic performance is strikingly stable. Research has shown that there is nearly a 90% probability that a child will remain a poor reader at the end of the fourth grade if the child is a poor reader at the end of first grade. By incorporating this educational agenda into our outreach and in-house storytimes, we hope to enlighten the parents and caregivers by showing them the importance of each of the six essential skills needed by preschoolers before they learn to read and write. Several workshops have been given by our staff to daycare providers and caregivers in our service area. Children's staff is available for anyone wanting additional insight into the program. In addition to teaching the six skills, we received funding through a Mylander Grant to develop totes for parents and caregivers to take home and enjoy at their leisure. These twelve totes are divided up by ages: birth-two and three to five years. The kits contain various activities to help a parent or teacher teach the skill, - puppets, songs, books - as well as a paper explaining each essential skill. As the demand has increased, we hope to add to the totes and expand our Ready to Read program.

READY TO READ is administered by the State Library of Ohio and the Ohio Library Council and is made possible, in part by Federal Library Services and Technology Act Funds, awarded to the State Library of Ohio by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Dayton Metro Library and Columbus Metropolitan Library have provided additional resources to this project.