INDIANAPOLIS — iRead-3 is an assessment of foundational reading skills for third graders. In Marion County, IRead-3 pass rates are below the state average. The Indianapolis Public Library has programs and services that help support local literacy. Here are a few highlights.
• On The Road To Reading: The Indianapolis Public Library’s On the Road to Reading program improves students’ early reading skills before they start kindergarten and elementary school. Itty Bitty bookmobiles visit child care centers and preschools around Indianapolis delivering bags full of age-appropriate books, providing storytimes, themed kindergarten-readiness kits, and resources to parents and childcare providers. They visit 60 locations each month and reach over 1,130 children.
• Quick Reads Initiative: In 2024, The Library will release a new collection of High Interest, Low Vocabulary books for adults and teens impacted by education inequity. These books feature subject matter that appeal to new readers, particularly newcomers to the country, or adults and teens who have struggled to learn to read through the education system and are now focusing on learning to read. This collection will be used by high schools and adult literacy education providers such as IndyReads.
• Pathway to Literacy: The Pathway to Literacy program assists adult English language learners who are immigrant readers with 6 years or less of formal schooling in their home country. 15 countries are represented.
• Diverse Collection: There are currently books in 28 languages, including a vast Spanish collection. In addition, library experts have curated a fresh Braille collection for several branches.