Nearly two-thirds of Lucas County children are not ready for kindergarten, according to recent kindergarten entrance exam data. The Ready to Read program provides innovative training on simple things caregivers can do to increase a child’s vocabulary. The team works to schedule locations where families of young children will be present. Lobbies, parks, tourist areas, toy departments at big box stores and riding TARTA buses around the city are some successful training locations.

The team continues to create more ways to connect with families, especially those who do not always visit the library. When local transit authority TARTA offered to promote library services on ads aboard buses, the Ready to Read team asked if they could ride bus routes around the city to reach caregivers of young children. TARTA was open to the idea and brought bus tokens to the team the next day, creating an impactful partnership.

When working with parents, an evaluator from BGSU helps collect data on the Ready to Read Program’s effectiveness. Several years of data research show that families benefit from the training and free kit of materials. The team has been able to connect with families on board the bus where there is built-in time to sit and talk about a child’s pre-literacy skills and ways to improve them, without going to the library.