On a quiet Monday morning at Richland Library Main, a handful of adults sit with volunteer tutors, sounding out words and sentences from well-worn workbooks.

The scene is part of the Turning Pages Reading Lab, a program that pairs trained volunteers with adults who never fully learned to read. Sessions are free and offered at several Richland Library branches across the county.

“It’s really a space for people to practice their skills in a judgment-free environment and also build community with others who are on their own literary journey as well,” Brittany Smith, assistant manager of Richland Library Sandhills and a volunteer with the program. 

The program’s goals are practical: helping adults read job applications, understand safety signs or support their children’s education. For many, literacy is about independence and dignity as much as opportunity.

Why is it so important?

South Carolina faces deep literacy challenges. Nearly 800,000 adults in the state – about 22% – read below a functional level, according to Literacy SC, Richland Library’s partner. The program offers individualized tutoring for as long as learners need, with most committing to 24 weeks of twice-weekly sessions.

The collaboration between Turning Pages and Richland Library began in 2023, giving tutors private and reliable spaces to meet with learners as well as access to library resources.

“Richland Library has been in partnership with Literacy SC for years,” Smith said. “… It started with one-on-one tutoring sessions that used our study rooms. And from there, it just grew into a larger conversation about expanding the reach to more communities.”

Smith says the program’s impact goes beyond reading skills.

“Whether someone is working toward their GED, learning English as a second language or just wants to enhance their quality of life — it’s all about giving adults the tools to do that,” she said. “We even see parents and caregivers who want to better support their children in school. It boosts their confidence as much as their literacy.”

The Reading Lab uses multi-sensory techniques, from flashcards to sentence-building, tailored to each learner’s needs. Sessions take place in private rooms within the library, where adults can learn without stigma.

That setting also opens doors to other library resources, including job search help, GED prep and family programs.

“This is a pilot program,” Smith said. “If it goes well, the plan is to continue reading labs not only at Richland Library but at other libraries across neighboring counties as well.”

The Reading Lab meets every Monday and Friday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Main branch. The sessions are described on the library’s website as, “No stress. No grades. Get real-life reading help in a small group with a friendly teacher.”