As millions of students and families head back to school, it’s an important time of year to recognize the crucial role public libraries play in student learning. From providing access to diverse resources, fostering critical thinking, and creating supportive learning environments, public libraries enhance academic achievement and lifelong learning. As schools rebound from the COVID-19, the library's role in the community remains as important as ever.

The pandemic led to significant reading proficiency declines for children in both Canada and the U.S. due to school closures, remote learning challenges, and reduced access to resources. In both countries, younger students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, experienced setbacks in foundational literacy skills, such as reading fluency and comprehension. The impact was more severe in communities with limited access to technology and support, exacerbating existing educational inequalities and widening achievement gaps.

This challenge presents an opportunity for libraries to advance their literacy programs and ensure equitable access to quality education. To help libraries do this work, the Urban Libraries Council developed a Science of Reading Toolkit with guidance on implementing evidence-based reading strategies that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young readers. (The “science of reading” encompasses a comprehensive body of research that spans cognitive psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, and education, providing a well-rounded understanding of how children learn to read.)

This new toolkit from ULC is structured around key components essential for creating impactful youth literacy programs and recommended strategies for your library to take:

• Center equity by acknowledging and addressing the systemic barriers that hinder equitable access to literacy resources, culturally affirming books, and programs and services that promote the development of the “reading brain.”

• Invest in professional development and train staff to better understand the urgency of reading skills and the cognitive processes involved in reading acquisition and deep fluency.

• Design with the community by engaging with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.

• Embed elements of Science of Reading into existing youth services and family engagement programs at the library.

• Prioritize, plan and partner by setting clear program goals, preparing a library collection of phonics materials, and work with schools to reach children in the highest-need demographics.

• Assess for outcomes to determine what reading interventions are most effective for your library.

By embracing the Science of Reading, libraries can ensure that their services are inclusive, relevant, and effective, ultimately fostering a more literate and empowered community. Every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident and capable reader, and this toolkit is a vital resource in achieving that goal.

You can access this new toolkit as well as other resources from ULC about the Science of Reading on our website. ULC’s Science of Reading work is generously supported by Baker & Taylor.