Decodable Books Learning Hubs Expand in Cortland County
A second Hub, now open at the Phillips Free Library in Homer, marks the completion of a project to introduce Decodable Books Learning Hubs in Cortland County.
The Rural Health Institute of New York (RHI) is pleased to announce the official launch of a Decodable Books Learning Hub at the Phillips Free Library in Homer, NY. The Hub launched on Saturday, April 11, 2026, with a kick-off event that drew community members for an introduction to the Hub's resources and a hands-on exploration period. The Homer Hub is the second of its kind in Cortland County, following the successful launch of a similar Hub at the Cortland Free Library in June 2025.
What Is a Decodable Books Learning Hub?
A Decodable Books Learning Hub is a curated, in-library collection of resources specifically designed to support new and improving readers. Each Hub offers decodable books (texts carefully structured to align with the phonics skills children are actively learning), alongside activity kits and parental resources that extend learning at home.
"Decodable books are like training wheels for learning to read," said Tammy Sickmon, Youth Services Director at the Cortland Free Library, at the June 2025 launch. "They provide children with the opportunity to practice using the phonics skills they've learned."
The Hubs are particularly valuable for early readers, homeschoolers, and youth who face barriers to literacy, including those with dyslexia. Both locations are free and open to anyone with a library card through the Finger Lakes Library System.
The Phillips Free Library Hub: Homer, NY
The Phillips Free Library is located at 37 South Main Street in Homer, NY. The April 11 launch event ran from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and included a presentation on how decodable books work, along with hands-on exploration time for adults to familiarize themselves with the Hub's resources. Establishing a Hub in Homer extends equitable access to early literacy tools, based on the science of reading, beyond the City of Cortland and into the county's smaller communities. The hub is located downstairs in the library’s children’s section.
How It Started: The Cortland Free Library Hub
The Learning Hub initiative was made possible by a grant RHI secured from the John Ben Snow Foundation & Memorial Trust, written by RHI's former literacy coordinator who was inspired by similar hubs in communities across New York State, including Skaneateles and Lodi.
The Cortland Free Library Hub launched on June 21, 2025, in partnership with Teach My Kid to Read, a national non-profit whose mission is to bring decodable book hubs to libraries across the country. Beth Bevars, Program Director for Teach My Kid to Read and Literacy Hub Director of the Lodi Whittier Library, was a presenter at the Cortland launch and brought both professional expertise and personal experience as the parent of a child who navigated literacy challenges due to dyslexia.
That event drew approximately two dozen parents, children, library trustees, and community stakeholders and included an outdoor decodable story walk, activities, and reading-themed refreshments. Presenters also introduced the free online community "Literacy @ Your Library", available to all Finger Lakes Library System patrons. The CFL’s Hub is located in their Youth Services section.
About RHI's Early Childhood Literacy Work
Early childhood literacy is a core focus area for RHI in Cortland County and is treated as a genuine public health issue. Research consistently shows that the ability to read proficiently by third grade is a strong predictor of long-term health, economic, and educational outcomes, making it a priority that extends well beyond the classroom.
To advance this work at a community level, RHI facilitates the Cortland County Literacy Coalition, which it has convened since the Coalition's founding in 2014. The Coalition brings together key stakeholders from across the county to share data, coordinate efforts, and expand access to evidence-based tools and resources for families, caregivers, and educators. Meeting quarterly, the Coalition operates on a central premise: that supporting families with books and tools to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities is foundational to long-term health and success for children in Cortland County. For more information about the coalition, visit hellocortland.fun/coalition.
For families in Cortland County, both Hubs are accessible when the library is open. Visit cortlandfreelibrary.org for the Cortland Free Library Hub, and phillipsfreelibrary.org for the Phillips Free Library Hub in Homer. These materials can also be requested by families online or through their local library and sent to other libraries in the Finger Lakes Library System for easy access. Families in Cortland County can also explore resources at hellocortland.fun.
