At Jodie Delgado’s library in Springwater, Ontario, you’ll find lots of great resources for people with dyslexia, especially young people who are learning to read. Jodie’s commitment to providing these resources comes not only from being the CEO of the library but also because she is a former teacher and the parent of a child with dyslexia.

“I understand the struggles of a family dealing with dyslexia. And I want our library to be a place where they can get some help," says Jodie.

We recently had a chance to chat with Jodie about the many resources her library offers. There is a healthy selection of decodable books spread across its three branches. There are ebooks, CELA resources and books in dyslexic font. The library also loans out scanning pens which read text as the pen moves across a page. They are available in local schools, so Jodie said they were a natural fit for the Springwater Library’s collection of resources.

Springwater Library, which is a small library serving a township of just 21,000 people, offers  lots of community outreach to the Dyslexic community. During previous Octobers, which is Dyslexia Awareness month, the library has hosted a discussion panel with experts on dyslexia, and another that included people with dyslexia who reported on their academic and career paths, and their experiences with a print disability. And they have hosted an in-library story walk using decodable books which helps promote the resource and also normalize the need for reading supports and the idea that everyone, no matter how they read, is welcome at the library.

Thanks in part to Jodie’s commitment, Springwater Library has a great connection with the Ontario Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association, and Jodie has worked closely with Alicia Smith who is now the Executive Director of Dyslexia Canada, offering presentations about dyslexia and libraries at OLS and OLA conferences.

In 2021, Springwater was one of the first libraries to receive a grant offered by the Ontario chapter of IDA to place decodable books and dyslexia awareness kits in the library. The grant continues today, the goal of making these books available to every family in Ontario through their local library branch. Jodie recommends all libraries in Ontario apply and she appreciates that grant recipients are asked to do something to raise awareness of dyslexia within their communities.  

Given that as many as 1 in 5 people may have dyslexia, Jodie is passionate about making sure they are welcomed in her library and can find the resources they need to support literacy. “Technology is great but it won’t necessarily help you read a menu or a street sign. People need literacy skills in order to participate in today’s society.”

Further reading

Accessiblelibraries.ca is a resource for all things about accessible library services. There are several articles on dyslexia.

Talking about accessible literacy (PDF) Resource guide about accessible formats and how they can be used to support struggling readers, including those with dyslexia.

CELA blog “Dyslexia Awareness Month”