Storytimes alone aren't enough. Children need parents and caregivers to help instill these early literacy skills. Parents and caregivers rely on librarians' support to help them become their children's first teachers.

For information on Ohio Ready to Read trainings or to schedule a training at your library, please contact Training Coordinator Natalie Fields.

Useful Resources:

Report on PLA/ALSC Every Child Ready to Read® @ Your Library® workshops held across Ohio in Fall 2007 and Spring 2008.

Ohio Department of Education Early Learning Content Standards.

Giving Children a Chance School Readiness Agenda

Regional Coordinators:

The Ohio Ready to Read Network is made up of sixteen regional library coordinators . The coordinators' responsibilities include:

• Communicate the importance of Ohio Ready to Read to library directors and children's librarians in the district
• Identify and develop community partners to reach as many families as possible with the tools that will support their children's early learning and development.
• Provide training opportunities for children's librarians in public libraries
• Communicate to children's librarians the importance of compliance with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services "Step Up To Quality" model. You can also view the accompanying training matrix.

Ohio Ready to Read Trainers: Please use this form to record trainings that you are offering in your area. You will need to create an account. Once you have done this you will be able to post Ready to Read trainings you are offering.

Ohio Ready to Read Trainings are already making a difference. The goal is for librarians and early childhood educators to be able to assist parents in gaining the skills they need, to help their children come to school prepared and ready to learn to read. For more information, see About Ready to Read.

OHIO 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.

PLA/ALSC Every Child Ready to Read® @ Your Library® is a program of the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children, divisions of the American Library Association.