Community Literacy Programs
All Excellence Library programs are offered free of charge to Columbus-area residents. Our certified librarians, TESOL-trained ESL instructors, and background-checked volunteer tutors ensure every participant receives high-quality, personalized instruction in a safe, welcoming environment. No library card or registration fee is required to attend.
After-School Reading Club
Our flagship youth program provides structured reading support for elementary and middle school students every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30 PM during the academic year (September through May). Each session follows a three-part format designed by reading specialists at Ohio State University’s School of Education.
First, participants engage in 30 minutes of guided silent reading with age-appropriate selections chosen by their assigned tutor. Next, small groups of three to five students discuss themes, vocabulary, and comprehension questions in a collaborative circle format. Finally, each session concludes with a creative response activity: journaling, illustration, dramatic reading, or collaborative storytelling. Healthy snacks are provided through our partnership with Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
Participants who maintain consistent attendance earn reading milestone badges and are invited to special events including author visits, field trips to the Columbus Metropolitan Library main branch, and the annual Young Readers Award ceremony held each May.
Program Details
- Schedule: Mon–Wed, 3:30–5:30 PM
- Season: September through May
- Ages: 5–12 (K through 6th grade)
- Location: State Street Reading Room
- Cost: Free
- Capacity: 24 students per session
- Tutors: 1:4 tutor-to-student ratio
- Snacks: Provided (allergy accommodations available)
ESL Curriculum Levels
Alphabet recognition, basic greetings, essential vocabulary for daily life (grocery, transportation, medical).
Sentence construction, workplace communication, reading signs and forms, telephone skills.
Paragraph writing, reading comprehension, citizenship test preparation, parent-teacher conference skills.
Academic essay writing, professional email and resume composition, GED preparation, college application support.
Adult ESL & Literacy Program
Our four-level English as a Second Language program serves over 80 adult learners annually from more than 15 countries of origin. Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in our State Street facility, with additional Saturday morning sessions for Level 1 beginners. All instruction is delivered by TESOL-certified volunteers with supplementary bilingual materials available in Spanish, Somali, Nepali, and Mandarin Chinese.
Each learner receives an initial placement assessment to determine their appropriate level. Progress is tracked through portfolio-based evaluation rather than standardized testing, allowing instructors to recognize real-world communication milestones like successfully navigating a medical appointment, completing a job application, or reading to their children in English.
Our program partners with Columbus International, the Somali Community Association of Ohio, and the Community Refugee and Immigration Services agency to provide culturally informed instruction and wraparound support services including childcare referrals and transportation assistance.
Senior Digital Skills Workshop
Bridging the digital divide for older adults through patient, hands-on technology instruction. Our workshops meet every Wednesday and Friday morning from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in groups of four to six participants, ensuring each person receives individualized attention. Free loaner tablets are provided during sessions, and participants who complete the full eight-week curriculum earn a Digital Literacy Certificate recognized by the Ohio Department of Aging.
Module 1: Getting Started
Device basics, touchscreen navigation, creating and managing email accounts, understanding Wi-Fi connectivity, and basic internet safety including recognizing phishing attempts and suspicious links.
Module 2: Staying Connected
Video calling with family using Zoom and FaceTime, social media basics, sharing photos safely, navigating the Columbus Metropolitan Library digital catalog, and downloading e-books and audiobooks.
Module 3: Daily Digital Life
Online banking safety, scheduling telehealth appointments through MyChart, ordering prescriptions, online grocery shopping, and navigating government services including Social Security and Medicare portals.
More Programs
Bookmobile Routes
Our retrofitted 32-foot mobile library visits 18 neighborhood stops across Columbus Monday through Saturday, bringing free book lending, Wi-Fi hotspot access, program registration, and reading tutor consultations directly to underserved communities. The bookmobile carries over 3,000 titles across all age groups and reading levels, refreshed monthly by our acquisitions team.
View Full Schedule →Summer Reading Challenge
Our annual 10-week summer program combats the documented “summer slide” in reading proficiency by incentivizing consistent reading throughout the break. Participants log books read (with parent or tutor verification for younger readers) and earn prizes at milestone intervals. Past prizes include new books, bookstore gift cards, Columbus Zoo passes, and COSI memberships donated by community sponsors.
Creative Writing Workshop
Led by published Columbus-area authors, our weekly Tuesday evening workshop (6:30 to 8:30 PM) provides structured feedback on fiction, poetry, memoir, and creative nonfiction. Participants develop craft skills through guided exercises, peer critique sessions, and optional publication in our annual literary journal, Pages & Bridges, distributed at the year-end community reading showcase.
STEM Story Hour
Every Saturday at 11:00 AM, children explore science concepts through curated read-alouds paired with hands-on experiments. Topics rotate monthly and include weather science, space exploration, animal habitats, plant biology, and simple machines. Presented in partnership with COSI educators, each session includes a take-home activity kit for continued learning at home.
Ready to Join a Program?
All programs are free and open to Columbus-area residents. No library card or advance registration is required for most sessions. For programs with limited capacity, we recommend contacting our office to reserve your spot.
Register or Get Involved →