College of Information and Communications

Literacy Initiative

In Fall 2005, the School of Information Science launched Children, Libraries and Literacy, a statewide initiative to reduce illiteracy in South Carolina by taking a fresh and tactically new approach. The multi-faceted initiative reaches out to children, adults, child care centers, and literacy advocacy groups across the state through books, storytelling, training, research and hands-on opportunities in collaboration with local public and school libraries

Our Goal

Our goal is to disrupt the cycle of illiteracy among South Carolina’s children and adults, particularly in those communities that are underserved or disadvantaged. We want to ensure that every child in the state has the opportunity, resources, and instructional support to learn to read through outreach, research and resources.

Our Initiatives

Augusta Baker Chair

The Augusta Baker Chair conducts research on literacy and oversees outreach programs for the literacy community throughout the state, including public and school libraries and community-based literacy programs.

Cocky's Reading Express

Cocky and his volunteers travel to South Carolina elementary schools to inspire children to become reader leaders in their homes by reading to family and friends. They read and act out Cocky's favorite books and give each child a book to take home.

South Carolina Center for Community Literacy

The Center was established as a resource center for the state by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education in 1992 to support teaching, learning and research related to children's and young-adult literature and materials. The Center provides information, education, and support services for faculty and students in teacher education and library science, classroom teachers, librarians, and parents statewide. It maintains a current collection of books and a small retrospective collection of award-winning books.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.