Your Teaching and Learning Partner
Engaging a child's desire to learn can be a challenge—that's why Licking County Library offers a variety of resources to foster a child's love of literacy. From access to eResources like Hoopla to our specially curated classroom collections, LCL has the tools to encourage children to become life-long learners.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Enroll your child in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and we’ll send them a FREE BOOK every month until their fifth birthday. The time you spend reading with your child opens their mind to faraway places, exciting adventures and sets them on the pathway to an interest in lifelong learning. Read to your child—it’s a wise investment in their future and the future of our community. If your child lives in Licking County, register for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library here or at any library location in Licking County. For details on the program or to print a registration form, click here.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
One of the most powerful ways to boost a child’s brain power is by reading!
That’s why LCL supports the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. It is a fun, exciting and free way to start your child on the right path. The objectives of the program are 1. to promote reading to newborns, infants and toddlers; 2. to encourage parent and child bonding through reading.
It is a simple, innovative, yet fun, approach to establishing strong early literacy skills. Help your young child gain the confidence necessary to become a strong reader. Stop by any LCL location to register and start tracking what your child reads. For every 100 books logged, your child gets a small prize or book with a fantastic "Super Reader" cape at the completion of the program. You can download Log Book and print it from home too.
Did your librarian read three books to the kids during story time? They count! So do e-books and audiobooks from Libby and Hoopla’s Read-Along Reader. Before you know it, you’ll have reached 1,000 books, received multiple prizes and have a child ready to read! For easier tracking, there is an app for your device by 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and can be accessed in your phone's store.
Story Time
It's never too early to nurture a child's love of learning. Story time introduces interactive learning opportunities where kids of all ages enjoy books and stories, rhymes and rhythm, music and songs while taking turns, paying attention, and developing early literacy skills. Check our Story Time page for details.
Education Collections
We know that you are working hard to provide the best learning experience for your child, Scout troop, youth group, or students, wherever possible. Let us help you enhance learning with specially selected materials on topics that will ignite their passion for learning. Requests can be placed through our online form, in person or over the phone. Read about our guidelines, contact us for additional information at 740.349.5550 and youthservices@lickingcountylibrary.org.
Homeschool Support
We strive to provide valuable experiences and high-quality support to your homeschooling family through events, materials and services. Use our extended-access educator library card to supplement your classroom library with engaging books, movies and more. Look for the "Homeschool is in Session” program icon in our Check It Out newsletter to quickly identify upcoming events designed with your needs in mind.
The Library Lab at LCL's Downtown Newark location is available for educators and youth-serving organizations to reserve at no cost. This space is equipped with classroom supplies and learning tools to support K-12 students. The Library Lab can be reserved here.
We ask that you complete this Home Educator Feedback Survey to help us continue to enhance Library resources and services for homeschooling families.
Early Literacy Skills
Parents and teachers play an important part in encouraging a child’s love of reading. Developing literacy skills starts at birth through reading stories, singing songs and playing together.
Early literacy means laying a solid foundation so your child is ready to learn to read when they enter Kindergarten. Have FUN with your child and learn important skills without even realizing it!
The six early literacy skills are:
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Letter Knowledge – Knowing the names, shapes and sounds of letters
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Narrative Skills – Ability to describe things and events and tell stories
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Phonological Awareness – Ability to hear and play with smaller sounds in words
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Print Awareness – Understanding how a book works
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Print Motivation – A child’s interest in and enjoyment of books
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Vocabulary – Knowing the names of things, understanding the meaning of words