August Member Highlights: Empowering Student Readers at Eastern Local Schools

Submitted by Chris Adkins, Library Media Specialist at Eastern Local Schools

Students at Eastern Local Schools in Beaver, Ohio are buzzing with excitement about reading — and that excitement is showing real results. We spoke with Chris Adkins, Library Media Specialist, to learn more about the strategies she is employing to spark a love of reading on a budget.

What achievements are you most proud of from last school year?

Since implementing the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching the science of reading the past few years, our elementary reading scores have increased drastically. The scores on the Third-Grade Reading Guarantee Proficiency Assessment in 2024-2025 were 90%, which is higher than they have ever been.

Along with the introduction of the science of reading, there seems to be a new excitement for reading. We can hardly keep up with the traffic in the library and the hunger for reading the students seem to have now. Overall, our circulation increased by 30% during the 2024-2025 school year over the previous year.

The students who come to the library just cannot wait to get a book. They also cannot wait to get their next book. Reading is no longer a drudge that must be done. It is something they get to do.

What strategies did you use to create such an impact on students?

Teachers have been making use of the “Decodables Adventure Lab” and related classroom materials that we were able to secure with a Federal IMLS/LSTA Competitive Grant from the State Library of Ohio. The lab, located in the library, consists of one basket for each concept in the sequence of the Orton-Gillingham method for teaching the science of reading.

The advantage of having all materials for all grades housed in the library is that intervention classrooms, and other classrooms with students working above or below grade level, can access resources beyond their regular grade-level materials to support those students.

We have also worked to foster the love of reading outside the classroom. Research has shown time after time that children who have a good home library do better in school and are more likely to learn reading skills more quickly than those children who do not have books at home.

Childhood poverty is extremely high in our area, and a personal library is not a high priority for parents who are mainly concerned with paying the bills and putting food on the table. Using a grant, a Donors Choose campaign, and annual donations from the local Lion’s Club, we were able to install a book vending machine in the library.

The vending machine is part of our Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program where the students can earn E-Cash for actions such as good grades, good behavior, earning Accelerated Reader Points, class participation, or even paying a kindness toward another student or a teacher. E-Cash is accessible to all, but it requires some effort, which gives the student a sense of ownership in that they earned the book. My vending machine is covered with little fingerprints where the kids stop, look, and dream of the next book they will earn.

Finally, building the excitement for reading has been a team effort. Elementary Principal, Matt Hines, has always been a supporter of the library and a believer of the value of building early reading skills in making lifelong learners. This administrative support has been invaluable in building excitement for reading among the students and teachers.

What advice do you have for folks who would like to try similar approaches?

Grants-Grants-Grants!!! Look for any and all grants you are eligible to apply for. Join organizations that may give you access to grants, such as the American Library Association, Association of Rural and Small Libraries, etc.

If you have limited funds, like my library does, look for ways to buy books in a less expensive way. If you have an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet close, you can often get 15% off coupons if you are an Ollie’s Army member. First Book is a good source for less expensive books.

My biggest piece of advice is to look around at other schools and see what they are up to. If you see something you like, connect with that school to see how it could be replicated in your school or library. Of course, it won’t be exactly the same. You will want to tailor it to your needs, but it will give you a good jumping off point. Huntington Elementary helped us immensely with our Decodables Lab, because they had something similar.

How can folks support you in fostering your students’ love of reading?

We accept donations of new/unused children’s books or monetary funds for the book vending machine. Please send any donations to:

Eastern Local Schools
Library Book Vending Machine
1170 Tile Mill Road
Beaver, OH 45613

Thank you to Chris for sharing her experiences in this month’s Member Highlights! Share more about a recent project or program from your library in OhioNet’s monthly Member Highlights series — contact Jillian Tuttle at [email protected] for more information.

Additional Member Updates –

• Coffee with Katy continues on August 27. With summer reading just behind us and back-to-school season ahead, this month’s chat will center on all things children’s programming.
• This September, join us for a special series of webinars on making and makerspaces. Each session offers practical strategies and tools you can use to strengthen your library’s programs.
• Submit your proposal to present at our Library Facilities Summit on October 28. We’re inviting OhioNet members to share their expertise on how libraries can repair, maintain, and design spaces that serve patrons and staff. Proposals accepted through September 8.
• NEW: Join us for The Renewals Workshop with Kaetrena Davis Kendrick on October 15. This in-person experience, hosted at OhioNet’s Town Hall meeting space in Westerville, is designed to help individuals and groups recognize, reconcile, and recover from dysfunctional workplace cultures and behaviors.
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