Porter Library part of Cuyahoga Reads

Greater Cleveland libraries, including Westlake Porter Public Library, are joining together to help young people in Greater Cleveland who have fallen behind in their literacy skills due the COVID-19 pandemic in a new program called Cuyahoga Reads.

Building on the success of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s Cleveland READS challenge to read 10 million minutes in 2023, Cuyahoga Reads will begin June 2023 and continue through December 2024. The program will focus on forming positive and consistent reading habits, fostering a love for reading, and equipping young people and families in Greater Cleveland with the literacy skills necessary for their future success.

Families are invited to attend the free Cuyahoga Reads kick-off party on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Great Lakes Science Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., where they can enjoy family fun and sign up for the Cuyahoga Reads reading challenge with their library through Beanstack.

Partnering libraries are behind Cuyahoga Reads; a new innovative program funded by the Ohio Department of Education’s Libraries Accelerating Learning grant. The Department awarded Libraries Accelerating Learning grants to Ohio libraries planning to create or expand literacy programs for Ohio’s PreK-12 students.

Cuyahoga Reads participants can look forward to instant access to library cards, eBooks, and eAudiobooks, a reading challenge that begins on Saturday, Aug. 5, and fun literacy-based activities.

To accelerate student learning, Making a Difference Consulting analyzed the Ohio Department of Education school report card data, and conducted focus groups and community surveys at each library system to tailor literacy support based upon the needs of K-12 students in each community.

Everyone is encouraged to dive into summer reading programs at each of their participating libraries, pre-register for the Cuyahoga Reads challenge to keep reading momentum and habits going strong into the fall, and attend targeted literacy and learning programs at each partner library. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students.