Librarians as Community Literacy Ambassadors
San Francisco Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Librarians are the front line when parents come into the library asking for reading resources. While we might be surrounded by books, most librarians know very little about reading development past the early learning stage. Library storytimes help support every child be ready to read, but then what happens? The Literacy Ambassador training was developed to support SFPL librarians to gain understanding about Science of Reading, structured literacy and reading supports to support families and be able to identify the linkages between familiar Every Child Ready to Read practices and how it connects with structured literacy practices. The training also highlights reading development and structured literacy resources at SFPL, including the mechanics of how the FOG Readers reading intervention program works. Lastly, the training suggests ways in which librarian led programming can integrate structured literacy practices with literacy games.
Challenge/Opportunity
Librarians supporting caregivers of struggling readers were unsure how to refer families for help, especially as more parents expressed concerns about their children’s reading development. These concerns echoed the 2025 report showing that 47% of 3rd‑grade students in the local district were reading below grade level. In 2024, the district adopted a structured literacy curriculum while the library expanded its own supports, adding a Decodable Readers collection and exploring FOG Readers Program growth. As schools worked to improve reading scores, we reflected on our own resources—especially staff who connect with families daily—and how they could champion struggling readers. Librarians asked for guidance, laying the groundwork to develop a professional development opportunity that empowers SFPL staff to confidently serve as literacy ambassadors, by leveraging expertise of the FOG Readers Literacy Program team.
Key Elements of Innovation
Facilitated by SFPL FOG Readers Program librarians, the Literacy Ambassador Training is a 4.5‑hour professional development opportunity for front‑line staff to better support caregivers seeking reading help for children beyond early learning. The training covers the Science of Reading, key instructional models and why some students need support beyond school. Staff learn about the library’s Decodable Readers collection and how its scope and sequence support reading development. Participants also gain clarity on the FOG Readers Program, a structured, multisensory phonics‑based intervention for grades 1–4 using 1:1 trained volunteer tutors and brainstorm literacy programming ideas for out‑of‑school time at the library. Key partners include internal stakeholder; front‑line staff, library management, FOG Readers literacy staff and external stakeholders interested in out of school time supports; caregivers and educators—who have a shared interest in available community literacy support.
Achieved Outcomes
Outcomes:
* Librarians who participated reported they felt much better equipped to support families and enjoyed the training very much.
* High use of the decodable collection, demonstrated by a circulation rate of 15 times a year per item, double the number of other materials.
* Trained 30 librarians at a time and offer the opportunity yearly for new staff or as a refresher.
* Paved the way for librarians to fold information into school visits.
