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<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:142.15pt;height:106.6pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="190" height="142" style="width:1.9739in;height:1.4791in" src="cid:image004.jpg@01DBFA3E.4FFA4640" align="left" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">The
State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce that Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) has been awarded $48,000 in federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) LSTA funds for a multi-year collaborative project titled
<i>“The Science of Reading: A Guide for Ohio’s Public Libraries to Help Raise Literacy Achievement.”</i> This project aims to enhance Ohio’s third-grade reading scores and promote literacy as a vital life skill. The State Library of Ohio Board approved the
grant following a recommendation by State Librarian Mandy Knapp and a presentation by TLCPL Youth Services Coordinator Nancy Eames during its July meeting. Support for this project demonstrates the State Library of Ohio’s dedication to assisting public libraries
as community partners in implementing Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement, which was developed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Project Goals and Outcomes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">The primary goal of this project is to provide public libraries throughout Ohio with a comprehensive and actionable toolkit designed to improve literacy achievement within their communities,
specifically targeting kindergarten through third-grade children. The initiative will offer training and an online collection of resources for libraries by building on existing K-12 education efforts, the current Reading Blueprint at TLCPL, and the broader
shift towards materials and strategies aligned with the Science of Reading. By piloting and assessing various elements of the initiative at TLCPL, alongside other participating large urban libraries and small libraries, the project will identify and overcome
implementation challenges across Ohio's diverse range of libraries and communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Public libraries have long supported literacy through established programs and caregiver outreach associated with the Public Library Association’s
<i>Every Child Ready to Read</i> initiative and <i>Ohio Ready to Read</i> for children ages 0-5. This project will extend similar opportunities and messaging for kindergarten through third-grade children and their caregivers, reinforcing libraries’ traditional
role as supporters of literacy and education and as accessible sources for reading materials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">“I am very pleased with this innovative and necessary project on the Science of Reading,” expressed State Librarian Mandy Knapp. ”Several State Library of Ohio Board members noted the
high quality of this proposal. I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this project and its impact on Ohio children.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Project Phases<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Phase One: Scheduled from November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, this phase will involve an evaluation of Toledo’s existing early literacy initiative (the
TLCPL Reading Blueprint) by an external evaluator. This evaluation is expected to refine the training, programs, services, and messaging associated with the Reading Blueprint.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Phase Two: Running from April 1, 2026, to November 30, 2026, this phase will introduce a version of the Reading Blueprint—along with the accompanying
training, programs, services, and support—to other participating libraries in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati for implementation and piloting. Similar evaluation processes to those in Phase One will be conducted.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Phase Three: From February 1, 2027, to June 30, 2027, this phase will expand the initiative to three smaller libraries, testing its applicability outside
urban settings and larger organizational structures. Morley Library, Pickaway County Library, and Twinsburg Public Library have agreed to participate at this stage.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Phase Four: Taking place from July 1, 2027, to October 31, 2027, this phase will focus on integrating lessons learned and potential improvements from
the evaluations to develop training and a toolkit that public libraries across the state can utilize to more effectively support literacy achievement within their communities.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img width="268" height="80" style="width:2.7916in;height:.8333in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DBFA3C.60198AB0" alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Director, Marketing & Communications<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">State Library of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Tel: 614.644.6875<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="mailto:marshams@library.ohio.gov"><span style="color:#0070C0">marshams@library.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="color:#0070C0">library.ohio.gov</span></a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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