Innovative Library Programs for Schools
Columbus Metropolitan Library
Innovation Synopsis
Two key programs, School Reading Assistants and the Winter Reading Challenge, have been instrumental in Columbus Metropolitan Library forging strong partnerships with schools to enhance student literacy and reading proficiency.
The School Reading Assistant (SRA) program began in 2022 to support students in summer school and became a year-round initiative in Reynoldsburg, Columbus and Whitehall City Schools in the 2023-24 school year. Depending on the school district, the program operated four to five days per week, providing one-on-one instruction to 288 students throughout the school year.
Library staff redesigned the 2024 Winter Reading Challenge, which originally started as a way to keep students reading during their winter break, to focus on schools and classrooms, aiming to bolster teachers’ efforts to mitigate pandemic learning loss.
Challenge/Opportunity
Many students are facing challenges with literacy and reading proficiency issues related to pandemic-induced learning loss and schools’ limited resources. However, opportunities exist through the SRA program, which offers individualized instruction, year-round support and strong partnerships with multiple school districts. The Winter Reading Challenge program fosters community engagement between the library and schools. By addressing these challenges and leveraging these opportunities, the library’s programs can significantly improve students’ literacy and reading proficiency, ultimately contributing to their academic success and lifelong learning.
Key Elements of Innovation
The School Reading Assistants (SRA) initiative and the re-vamped Winter Reading Challenge have introduced several innovative elements to address literacy issues and pandemic-induced learning loss. The SRA program offers one-on-one instruction tailored to each student’s needs, collaborating with multiple school districts to reach a broader student base. It specifically targets K-3 students impacted by the pandemic and provides additional support for those students. Data-driven insights from these one-on-one sessions help schools understand the root causes of students’ struggles. The Winter Reading Challenge shifted its focus to schools and classrooms, fostering stronger community ties and achieving high participation rates with improved data accuracy.
Achieved Outcomes
The SRA initiative successfully addressed academic loss among K-3 students impacted by the pandemic by deploying library staff to Franklin County schools for individualized reading practice. The year-round model allowed for closer student interaction, helping to identify knowledge gaps and provide additional support for interventions. Insights from one-on-one settings helped schools’ staff understand if students’ struggles were due to classroom or testing environments. The Winter Reading Challenge saw record participation with 12,284 students, a 75% completion rate and increased participation across districts. These outcomes highlight the program’s success in addressing academic loss, providing targeted support and fostering a love for reading among students.
