New literacy tool rolling out at regional libraries

Volusia County Public Library is launching new decodable reading kits designed to help young children practice early reading skills, and the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library is one of the branches where families can first find them. According to county information released Wednesday, the kits will debut the week of April 20 during Ready to Learn Pre-K Storytime programs at regional libraries in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Deltona, DeLand, Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach.

For Edgewater families, the New Smyrna Beach location makes this a practical nearby resource. The kits are intended for young readers who are beginning to sound out words on their own. Decodable books use a phonics-based approach, helping children read with letter-sound patterns they have already learned instead of relying on pictures or guessing. County officials said the goal is to build confidence, independence and stronger foundational reading habits.

How the kits fit into county literacy efforts

The county said the new kits are grounded in the science of reading and align with the Florida Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! initiative. That statewide approach emphasizes evidence-based instruction in phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. In practical terms, the kits are meant to give families another tool they can use at home while children are developing early literacy skills.

The launch also builds on other library programs already familiar to many Volusia parents, including My First Library Card, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, Growing Readers and Raising Readers. County officials described the new kits as part of a broader effort to connect storytimes, family reading and school-readiness support. While traditional read-aloud books remain important for language development, decodable books are specifically aimed at helping children actively practice reading themselves.

What Edgewater parents should know

The kits will be available for free checkout with a Volusia County Public Library card. Families interested in attending the debut storytime events can check program days, times and locations through the county library calendar at volusialibrary.org. Because New Smyrna Beach is among the initial rollout sites, Edgewater residents looking for nearby access may want to watch that branch’s schedule first.

The county said the kits were made possible through support from the Friends of the Library. For local parents and caregivers, the announcement is less about a one-time event and more about a new ongoing resource: a free, research-based reading aid available through the public library system. With kindergarten readiness and early literacy remaining major concerns for many families, the addition gives Edgewater-area households another nearby option for structured reading practice outside the classroom.