FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Early Learning Coalition Celebrates Ninth Owlivia’s Book Nook, Expanding Early Literacy Access for Hernando County Families
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — September 25, 2026 — The Early Learning Coalition is celebrating the opening of its ninth Owlivia’s Book Nook, creating a new literacy space for children and families at the Florida Department of Health – Hernando County WIC Brooksville location.
Owlivia’s Book Nook places books and early literacy resources in community spaces where families live, learn, and play. This newest location broadens access to engaging, age-appropriate books and helps families make reading a meaningful part of daily life.
The 10th Owlivia’s Book Nook was made possible through the generous support of Nemours Children’s Health, one of the nation’s largest integrated pediatric health systems. Nemours Children’s Health’s commitment to improving children’s lives extends beyond medical care to include research, education, prevention, and advocacy, with a focus on helping children thrive. “Every child deserves access to books and opportunities that inspire a lifelong love of learning,” said Jacob Horner, Vice President of External Affairs for Nemours Children’s Health and a member of the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties Board of Directors. “Owlivia’s Book Nook helps connect children and families with valuable literacy resources in a welcoming community setting. Nemours Children’s Health is proud to support partnerships that promote early literacy, strengthen families and help children build the foundation they need to thrive.”
“This milestone represents what is possible when community partners come together around a shared commitment to children and families,” said Dr. Steve Knobl, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition. “We are grateful to Nemours Children’s Health and the Florida Department of Health – Hernando County for helping us expand opportunities for children to develop a lifelong love of reading.”
These partnerships reflect the Early Learning Coalition’s mission to ensure that all children have a strong start in life. A strong start encompasses more than high-quality early childhood education. It also includes nutrition, family stability, emotional well-being, and access to resources that support children’s healthy development and growth.
By placing literacy resources in community settings, Owlivia’s Book Nooks help bring early learning beyond the classroom and into the everyday experiences of children and families.
The Early Learning Coalition extends its sincere gratitude to the partners, supporters, and community organizations that share its vision of helping children and families thrive. Together, these efforts are putting books—and brighter futures—into the hands of children throughout the community.
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About the Early Learning Coalition
The Early Learning Coalition works to support young children and families by connecting them with early learning opportunities, resources, and services that help children enter school ready to learn and succeed. Through partnerships across the community, the Coalition is committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity for a strong start in life.
About Nemours Children’s Health
Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two free-standing children’s hospitals and a network of 80 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children’s seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also addressing children’s needs well beyond medicine. In producing the highly acclaimed, award-winning pediatric medicine podcast Well Beyond Medicine, Nemours underscores that commitment by featuring the people, programs and partnerships addressing Whole Child Health. Nemours Children’s also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.
The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.
