Until United Way funding was acquired in 1979, the agency operated from private homes and churches. United Way funding allowed for a small office downtown and a part-time secretary.

The United Way Partnership introduced OLC to a larger audience. Our One-to-One tutoring had begun to grow.

The Pre-literacy program started because of a Special Needs Teacher with Springfield Public Schools.  She told us about her kids and how they didn’t have books in their homes.  She created an interactive program to go with specially selected books.

After board approval, we got this pilot program funded by Ozarks Empire Kiwanis. We partnered with  Leadership Springfield to have members read for the pilot year to the Special Needs Classrooms. This was the spring of 2003. 

From then on The Darr Family Foundation funded the Pre-Literacy Program each year. After the first year, we had volunteers reading for each classroom four times a year.  

In 2013 Ozarks Literacy Council and the Springfield-Greene County Library District entered into a lease agreement for office space at the Midtown-Carnegie Branch Library at 397 E Central St.

This location has been ideal for OLC. The library to refers patrons to our services, provides space for regular training sessions, and reserves rooms for tutoring sessions.

2021 was the beginning of a new hybrid style of learning. We have adapted to teaching online and in-person. Our programs have expanded to include the Reading Resource Program, aka #bookit. This program provides a volunteer reader for every class in the partnered elementary school. This lucky volunteer gets to spends at least 1/2 hour a month reading with their class.

Every child receives a copy of the book read and three books for the summer. Teachers have already noticed a positive change is attitude regarding books and reading! 2023-24 we expanded to include three elementary schools, Williams and McGregor and York. #bookitmustangs,  #bookittigers, #bookiteagles!!!