Reading

Alabama education is still receiving mixed reactions nationally on the subject of education. A recent study by the financial website Wallethub ranks the state as ninth worst school system in the nation. However, one area where Alabama seems to be making progress is reading.

America’s children, including youngsters in Alabama, have continued to lose ground on reading skills in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and have made little improvement in math, according to the latest results of an exam known as the nation’s report card. However, the Yellowhammer State is among the top areas in the country where 4th grade math scores are improving.

The Auburn Public Library is now offering its new Favorite Authors Club, a service designed to make it easier for patrons to stay up to date with 15 popular authors’ latest releases. Library patrons who join will automatically be placed on hold for new books as soon as they become available.

The child literacy nonprofit Reach Out and Read Alabama is celebrating 15 years in a big way. The organization's Rx for Summer Reading campaign is wrapping up providing access to books for kids and families across the state through doctors and pediatricians.

Reach Out and Read Alabama is announcing more money will go directly toward helping families across the state. The organization is an affiliate of the national nonprofit, Reach Out and Read, which promotes early childhood literacy and healthy early relationships.

The University of Alabama is being recognized for the Certified Academic Language Therapist program, billed as a transformative dyslexia education initiative. UA hosted U.S. Congress Members and dyslexia professionals for a roundtable to discuss the program.

In April 2024, The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies will award a $15,200 in new, free books to elementary and high school libraries in Alabama via the SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt & Beyond Program.

The City of Birmingham’s Poet Laureate Salaam Green will host a public reading of her new chapbook, “Once Upon a Magic City,” in honor of April’s Poetry Month. The free event will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the Birmingham Public Library.

Book donations for schools in the thirteen counties along the Black Belt region in Alabama are in the final days of collections. The 18th annual Books for the Black Belt campaign wraps up on Friday, March 1.

Auburn children’s author, Emberly Zellars, will read her debut book, “My Friend Maddy,” at the last installment of the Auburn Public Library’s fall author series. The reading of the picture book is set for Saturday, October 14 at 1 p.m. at the library.