Science of Reading for Library Staff Online

Two Wednesdays: January 7th and January 21st, from 1:00-3:00pm.  Register for both sessions under the January 7th session

Dr. Brigid Cook will lead this two-session virtual professional development series that is tailored for children’s and youth services librarians in public or school library settings. The goal of this series is to provide librarians with research-based knowledge and practical strategies grounded in the Science of Reading (SoR).

Libraries play a vital role in early literacy, serving as trusted community hubs where children, families, homeschool groups, and child care providers engage with books and reading activities. Many librarians, however, have not received formal training in the cognitive science of reading development, including critical areas such as word recognition, language comprehension, and early indicators of reading difficulties, including dyslexia.

This professional development series is designed to address that gap by equipping librarians with SoR knowledge and dyslexia awareness. Participants will be able to:
• Understand how children learn to read, the factors that influence reading success, and how to recognize early warning signs of reading difficulties.
• Access practical tools and resources to guide families in supporting literacy at home.
• Design library programs, storytimes, and take-home resources that build foundational reading skills for all learners.
• Empower parents and homeschool families with evidence-based strategies to foster children’s literacy development.

Session 2: Putting Science into Practice — Supporting Families and Diverse Readers
Session Description: This virtual session focuses on practical ways librarians can use SoR principles to design inclusive programs and help parents and homeschool families support literacy at home. Special attention is given to how to direct parents to trusted resources, and how to create literacy-rich environments that build both word recognition and language comprehension.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1.Explain the Science of Reading and dyslexia in clear, family-friendly language.
2.Design programs and resources that support both word recognition and language comprehension.
3.Guide parents and homeschool families in evidence-based literacy activities at home.
4.Recognize when to encourage parents to seek resources about reading difficulties.
5.Build library literacy environments that nurture all readers, including those with dyslexia.

Presenter Biography
Brigid Cook, M.Ed., C.A.S., is an Assistant Professor at Harford Community College with expertise in early childhood education, K-12 education, and literacy, with a focus on dyslexia. She combines research-based knowledge with hands-on classroom and community experience to provide tools that help others understand and support the diverse language and literacy needs of young children. Her professional background includes teacher preparation and running a private dyslexia practice, enabling her to turn complex research into practical strategies for community literacy partners.

CE Hours:  4 hours (both sessions)

Registration closes:  December 30, 2025, @ 5:00pm.  A Zoom link will be sent to all registrants.