The Reading Buddies Program offers free, one-on-one help with volunteers to children in Grades 1-4 who are having difficulty reading by:

• Providing a safe and welcoming environment that inspires a love of reading
• Creating a positive relationship with a volunteer reading partner
• Motivating children to read and actively use library resources
• Introducing children to a variety of reading materials

Reading Buddies sessions are tailored to the interests and abilities of individual children. The program is not designed to duplicate what happens in school or formal tutoring, but rather create a more positive attitude towards reading and practice literacy skills. Volunteers are trained to encourage and motivate children through the use of interesting reading material (physical books and digital resources), games, crafts, and activities that are literacy-based.

Program Dates: 8 sessions on Tuesday evenings
October 19 to December 7
5 pm-6 pm on Zoom.

Weekly sessions include:

• All participants having their webcam on to actively engage with each other.
• 5:00-5:15 pm: Group literacy-based game
• 5:15-5:45 pm: Your child will be put into a Zoom breakout room with their volunteer buddy for one-on-one support. This may include literacy-based games, conversation, shared reading, and reading to each other. The breakout room will be monitored by library staff.
• 5:45-6:00 pm: Group storytime led by library staff

Interested in applying to the Fall/Winter session? Please complete this online form.

Questions? Contact Holly Brown, Literacy and Innovation Specialist at hbrown@ocl.net