Corona Library :: From illiterate to role model :: John Zickefoose

From illiterate to role model
Once, John Zickefoose couldn't read to his children or order from a menu. Today, he's a school board member and Corona library advocate.
LA Times: January 5, 2011 by Carla Rivera

The metamorphosis is as quick as the turn of a page: John Zickefoose is a hyperactive goose, a laid-back bear, a monkey, a tiger. The children at the Corona Public Library squeal with laughter as the man whose name rhymes with Seuss becomes louder and more animated.

There was a time when reading the simple words of a picture book would have proved impossible for Zickefoose. He spent years in school overwhelmed with sadness that nothing came as easily to him as it did for others. He would become rowdy, preferring to be kicked out of class than to be called on by the teacher.

Zickefoose was functionally illiterate, unable to read a prescription label, his children's report cards or a menu. He was diagnosed as a young boy with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and didn't learn to read and write until he was 35.

That's when everything changed. He became a poster boy for the Corona library's adult reading program, began to speak publicly about his own struggles and was named the library's literacy director. He founded a nonprofit youth organization.

And on Dec. 7, Zickefoose, 52, was sworn in as a member of the Corona-Norco Unified School District Board of Education.

For the boy who couldn't understand the words on his high school diploma, the journey to the school board was the culmination of a vow to do something meaningful in life and help prevent others from starting out as he did.

"I'll be able to bring, quite frankly, an unusual perspective of what it feels like to be in the classroom and be a failure," Zickefoose said. "I don't want any child to go through what I went through."

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An estimated 30 million American adults can't read a newspaper or fill out a job application. Many have learning disabilities. Others are dropouts, victims of failing school systems. Some are immigrants with deficient English language skills who may also be illiterate in their native tongues.

But Zickefoose is also an anomaly. Only about 5% of adults who need services receive them, mainly because there is still so much shame attached to the condition, said David C. Harvey, president and chief executive of ProLiteracy, an international advocacy group. Zickefoose serves on the board of directors.

"John is a national role model because one of the most effective ways to break down that stigma is to have people who have had this problem talk about it," Harvey said. "He's a shining example of what can happen when someone gets services and puts those new skills to work."

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Now outreach coordinator at the library, Zickefoose appears to be straight-arrow, business-minded, even professorial. But his tie, with an imprint of the Looney Tunes' Tasmanian Devil, hints at a whimsical nature.

He formed UNITY (United Neighbors Involving Today's Youth) in 1996, and it has evolved into a coalition of 80 public and private agencies that have secured more than $17 million for the Corona-Norco school district. A generation of students know him as Mr. Z from his appearances at school assemblies where he preaches perseverance, using his own life as an example.

As a school board member, Zickefoose wants to prepare students earlier for college and a career and to pursue more outside funds for such school programs as arts and music. READ MORE !

Corona Library :: John Zickefoose Learned To Read At 35, Now Shares His Literacy Struggle With Kids

From illiterate to role model
Once, John Zickefoose couldn't read to his children or order from a menu. Today, he's a school board member and Corona library advocate.
LA Times: January 5, 2011 by Carla Rivera

The metamorphosis is as quick as the turn of a page: John Zickefoose is a hyperactive goose, a laid-back bear, a monkey, a tiger. The children at the Corona Public Library squeal with laughter as the man whose name rhymes with Seuss becomes louder and more animated.

There was a time when reading the simple words of a picture book would have proved impossible for Zickefoose. He spent years in school overwhelmed with sadness that nothing came as easily to him as it did for others. He would become rowdy, preferring to be kicked out of class than to be called on by the teacher.

Zickefoose was functionally illiterate, unable to read a prescription label, his children's report cards or a menu. He was diagnosed as a young boy with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and didn't learn to read and write until he was 35.

That's when everything changed. He became a poster boy for the Corona library's adult reading program, began to speak publicly about his own struggles and was named the library's literacy director. He founded a nonprofit youth organization.

And on Dec. 7, Zickefoose, 52, was sworn in as a member of the Corona-Norco Unified School District Board of Education.

For the boy who couldn't understand the words on his high school diploma, the journey to the school board was the culmination of a vow to do something meaningful in life and help prevent others from starting out as he did.

"I'll be able to bring, quite frankly, an unusual perspective of what it feels like to be in the classroom and be a failure," Zickefoose said. "I don't want any child to go through what I went through."

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An estimated 30 million American adults can't read a newspaper or fill out a job application. Many have learning disabilities. Others are dropouts, victims of failing school systems. Some are immigrants with deficient English language skills who may also be illiterate in their native tongues.

But Zickefoose is also an anomaly. Only about 5% of adults who need services receive them, mainly because there is still so much shame attached to the condition, said David C. Harvey, president and chief executive of ProLiteracy, an international advocacy group. Zickefoose serves on the board of directors.

"John is a national role model because one of the most effective ways to break down that stigma is to have people who have had this problem talk about it," Harvey said. "He's a shining example of what can happen when someone gets services and puts those new skills to work."

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Now outreach coordinator at the library, Zickefoose appears to be straight-arrow, business-minded, even professorial. But his tie, with an imprint of the Looney Tunes' Tasmanian Devil, hints at a whimsical nature.

He formed UNITY (United Neighbors Involving Today's Youth) in 1996, and it has evolved into a coalition of 80 public and private agencies that have secured more than $17 million for the Corona-Norco school district. A generation of students know him as Mr. Z from his appearances at school assemblies where he preaches perseverance, using his own life as an example.

As a school board member, Zickefoose wants to prepare students earlier for college and a career and to pursue more outside funds for such school programs as arts and music. READ MORE !

Corona Library :: Corona literacy coordinator elected to school board :: John Zickefoose

Corona literacy coordinator elected to school boardPress Enterprise: November 3, 2010 by Dayna Straehley

Corona library literacy coordinator John Zickefoose won a seat on the Corona-Norco Unified School District board Tuesday.

Six candidates sought two open seats on the school board. Longtime board members Bill Hedrick and Sharon Martinez did not run for re-election.

Zickefoose, who has 27.88 percent, or 16,554, of the votes in the unofficial tally, said he was thrilled and humbled by the community's support.

Zickefoose said he learned to read as an adult and has made literacy his mission. He reads to students at every school in the district. He also co-founded United Neighbors Involving Today's Youth, a community coalition that includes school district representatives.

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All six said they want more career education, especially for students who don't plan to go to college.

Most agreed that not all students are college-bound, so programs such as computer technology, auto shop or wood shop will motivate them at school and close the achievement gap between middle class white and Asian students and black, Latino students and socio-economically disadvantaged students. READ MORE !

Corona Library :: Report claims literacy skills not improved

Report claims literacy skills not improved
Press Enterprise: Dec 15, 2005 by Linda Lou

By looking at the way John Zickefoose reads to children during story time at the Corona Public Library, you would think that he's at home with books -- as natural as a "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" in water.

But Mr. Z, as he's known to children, didn't read well until he was 35. His 7-year-old son started correcting Zickefoose when he read, which prompted him to enroll in an adult literacy program at the Corona library. Zickefoose is now the library's community liaison.

Today, many adults are still not functionally literate. About 11 million people 16 and older are nonliterate in English; about 30 million people have below-basic literacy skills; and about 63 million people have basic skills, according to a U.S. Department of Education report released Thursday.

The report showed that on average, adult literacy rates have not improved much since 1992. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy report, which was conducted in 2003, found that blacks and Asians are more able to read documents and complete forms than in 1992. Hispanics, however, decreased in being able to do these tasks.

On average, the study also found that women are more literate than men.
And the report showed that people with college and graduate degrees in 2003 had lower literacy skills than their same groups in 1992.

These discoveries on literacy and race, gender and education levels are eye-opening, said Mark Schneider, commissioner of education statistics at the National Center for Education Statistics. NCES is part of the U.S. Department of Education.

These three areas are wakeup calls on what needs to be further examined, he said.

Implications

Schneider and other experts say the decline in literacy for Hispanics isn't revealing. They attribute it to demographic changes since 1992. Most Hispanic or Latino immigrants arrive in the United States in their teenage or adult years and don't speak English, Schneider said. The NAAL report shows increases in the numbers of Hispanics and Asians in the nation since 1992.

Census data show that recent generations of immigrants are less educated than previous ones, said Robert Wedgeworth, president and CEO of ProLiteracy Worldwide, based in Syracuse, N.Y. Wedgeworth said the relatively static overall results are alarming. "The suggestion that literacy levels are remaining the same in a world that is changing so rapidly means we are becoming less and less competitive," he said.

But Alayne Sullivan, an associate professor of literacy education at Cal State San Bernardino said that research shows the claims of a national literacy crisis are greatly exaggerated. "We are doing a better and better job, and literacy levels are slowly and steadily going up," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said increases that the report revealed in abilities to read forms and documents among blacks and Asians are positive. "We haven't typically seen those kinds of changes to positive extents for many decades prior to that," she said. "There are reasons to feel uplifted."

The emphasis on literacy has come to the forefront in education in this era of No Child Left Behind and standards-based education, said Diana Blackledge, a Riverside Unified School District assistant superintendent.

The best way to achieve widespread adult literacy is to ensure that every child leaves the K-12 system literate, she said.

Next Steps

Now that a snapshot of adult literacy is available, it shows what needs to be done, said Sharon Darling, founder and president of the National Center for Family Literacy, a worldwide literacy advocate group based in Kentucky.
Literacy efforts should be more focused in the Hispanic community on both parents and children, Darling said. Parents need to be literate to find better jobs and need to be literate to help their children with education, she said.
Sherry Yeh, a Corona parent who emigrated from Taiwan, said she decided to improve her English-language literacy skills about two years ago. She is getting instruction at the Corona Public Library.

Yeh's daughters, who are in elementary school, are getting older and Yeh wants to communicate with their teachers and be on top of their education.
Yeh also said she would like to find an accounting job in the future and needs to be literate. She has seen improvements in her day-to-day life.

"Right now, I can pick up the phone and make a (doctor's) appointment," Yeh said. "Before, I need to ask my husband ... The other day, I took my kids to the dentist. I can fill out the form, but I still need to use dictionary."

Literacy, a Priority

It's more important now than ever to be literate in the 21st century, some say.
Zickefoose, who sits on ProLiteracy Worldwide's board of directors, said 100 years ago, no one would bat an eye if you couldn't read. Just be able to scrawl a signature, he said.

Today, illiteracy is not only a social stigma but affects the quality of life, Zickefoose said. Even with the advance of technology and computers, people need to know how to read to see what's online, he said.

Between 1992 and 2003, many manufacturing jobs have been lost in the United States, while high-tech jobs have risen, Darling said. "It sounds kind of trite, but (literacy) does open the doors for everyone," Blackledge said. "When you're literate, you have access to whichever profession you're interested in."

Corona Library - CNN Hero John Zickefoose (Mr. Z) will speak at the LDA Adult Luncheon

CNN Hero John Zickefoose (Mr. Z) will speak at the LDA Adult Luncheon

“Yes You Can"

Mr.Z is a natural storyteller and delights in bringing books to young readers. But that was not always the case. There was a time when reading the simple words of a picture book would have proved impossible for Mr. Z. He spent years in school overwhelmed with sadness that nothing came as easily to him as it did for others. He would become rowdy, preferring to be kicked out of class than to be called on by the teacher.

He was functionally illiterate, unable to read a prescription label, his children’s report cards or a menu. He was diagnosed as a young boy with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity. For more than 30 years, Mr. Z was illiterate, barely capable of writing or reading his own name. He managed to graduate from high school, but he admits that he could only read a few words on his diploma.

His second grade son began asking him for homework help that he could not provide. At his wife’s suggestion, Mr. Z contacted the Corona Public Library and began literacy classes. Empowered by his new reading skills, Mr. Z has become an advocate for the struggling youth and adults in our society, drawing upon his own experiences in learning how to read and succeed in life. He has appeared on ABC, NBC, CNN and PBS. He has also given numerous radio interviews.

Demand for adult literacy rises as funding threatened - Corona Library - Hemet Library

Demand for adult literacy rises as funding threatened
Press Enterprise: 2.23.11 by Dayna Straehley

John Zickefoose's interest in education and literacy is personal.

After struggling with dyslexia and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder from elementary through high school, he finally turned for help to the library where he now works.

He was 35 years old and could no longer work in his home-repair business because he needed back surgery and a new career. His 7-year-old son read better than he could.

So 17 years ago he walked in the Corona Library and embarked on a journey of literacy.

Today, Zickefoose is on the board of an international literacy organization and the Corona-Norco Unified School District. He is outreach coordinator at the Corona Public Library.

"I owe my life to this library," he said. "It totally transformed me as a human being."

Such transformations could become more elusive as governments struggle to balance the budgets. Demand for adult literacy services in the Inland area is higher than ever, but funding cuts threaten the programs run from public libraries.

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Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget would eliminate the $4.5 million the state provides to adult literacy programs such as the one at Corona's library.

Inland coordinators don't know how they will keep their programs going without state money.

"For every $1 of state funds, $4 of private donations are leveraged," said David Harvey, president and CEO of ProLiteracy. The international organization supports programs at the local level. It offers advocacy assistance as well as reading materials for adult learners.

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SMALL BUDGET, BIG RESULTS

Lori Eastman, literacy coordinator for Hemet Public Library Adult Literacy Services, said Zickefoose's beginning on the road to literacy is typical, although he has gone further than most. Adults are most often in their 30s or 40s, forced to make a career change and embarrassed because they can't help their children, she said.

Four adult learners in Hemet echoed many of the same frustrations that brought them to seek help learning to read and write better, although they wouldn't give their full names because they too are embarrassed about their disabilities. They said they wanted to help their children with their schoolwork and set a better example. They told of lifelong learning difficulties.

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Eastman said the city of Hemet supplements the $30,000 that comes from the state. Supplies come from donations and fundraisers, she said.

Corona Library Director Julie Frederickson said she is hopeful that community donors and the city will keep the literacy program afloat if state funding is cut.

Harvey was less optimistic.

He said the state funds are seed money for all of the libraries' and literacy programs' fundraising efforts.

"The private sector is never going to be able to replace the publicly funded core," Harvey said. READ MORE !

Redlands Library - Literacy advocate is featured speaker at Smiley

Literacy Changes Lives
Literacy advocate is featured speaker at Smiley
Redlands Daily Facts: 9.26.2012 by Ed Castro

REDLANDS - The Adult Literacy Program at the A.K. Smiley Library will reach out to potential students in a big way next month.

The event, hosted by Friends of the A.K. Smiley Public Library, will feature a presentation by John Zickefoose, who didn't learn to read until his 30s but worked his way through a literacy program and at one point led the adult literacy program in Corona.

The event will be held on Oct. 15 in the library's general assembly room.

"I think it certainly gives him a great deal of credibility among those who come in and ask for help," said Trudy Waldron, one of the library's volunteer Literacy Program Coordinators. "He is a genuine, warm person."

The hope is that Zickefoose's presentation will serve as motivation for those struggling with literacy issues.

Zickefoose managed to graduate from high school but it wasn't until he received requests for help from his young son that he finally decided to improve his literacy. Info: 909-798-7565, Ext. 4138. READ MORE !

Corona Library :: Confessions of an Illiterate Adult Screening :: June 7

Confessions of an Illiterate Adult Screening :: June 7 – 7pm

Join us for a special screening of an episode from the Pivot Network’s Secret Lives of Americans in which Cleo reveals to her family that she can’t read. Wednesday, June 7, 2017, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Corona Public Library.

Hear from John Zickefoose, member of the Board for the Corona Norco Unified School District, and former Adult Reading Assistance student. John will discuss his own struggles, how he has overcome them, and the continued work he does with the literacy community throughout the country.

Learn how illiteracy affects 20 percent of local adults, how you can help, and how to get help for someone who needs it.

Secret Lives of Americans is a groundbreaking documentary series that takes an unflinching look at the secrets people keep and the strength that it takes to reveal them to friends and family. In the adult literacy episode, Cleo will reveal her long-held secret to her family. The show will further the conversation on how viewers are impacted by the adult literacy issue in their own communities and provide ways to take action.

If you have any questions about this event please contact Betty Luscher at 951-736-2389

CA Budget: Library Funding

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

CLA Blog-News From the Capitol: January 13, 2011 by Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

Q: Why the complete elimination of PLF, TRB and Literacy Funding ?

A: "It was painful for us; we had to look at state funding directly... the state should not be funding programs that can be funded locally." (Governor's Department of Finance Representative).

A similar, blunt comment from a key Assembly Republican consultant: "We can't advocate against tax increases and then hold out to save programs that should be funded locally."

The collective impact on all libraries in a Senate district is much greater than cuts to your local library budget.The collective impact on all libraries in a Senate district is much greater than cuts to your local library budget. The amount totals $30.4 million.
$12.9 million cut to the PLF
$12.9 million cut to the TBR
$4.6 million cut to the literacy program

HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW
Hearings on the elimination of PLF, TRB & Literacy funding will begin in the coming weeks. The committees to contact:
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance

Please begin writing Legislative Leadership and members of the Committees ASAP ! Please explain what the cuts for these programs means for your local library and literacy program.
~ numbers of people that won't be served
~ hours of service lost
~ books and materials that won't be purchased
~ From illiterate to role model: Once, John Zickefoose couldn't read to his children or order from a menu. Today, he's a school board member and Corona library advocate. (LA Times)
~ Can You Read This? Thank Your Lucky Stars (SB Independent

The Honorable John Perez
Speaker of the Assembly
State Capitol Room 219
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Connie Conway
Assembly Republican Leader
State Capitol Room 3104
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Bob Blumenfield, Chair
Assembly Budget Committee
State Capitol Room 6026
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Susan Bonilla, Chair
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2
State Capitol Room 2188
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Bill Berryhill
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2
State Capitol Room 3141
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Julia Brownley
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2
State Capitol Room 2163
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Brian Nestande
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2
State Capitol Room 4139
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Sandre Swanson
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2
State Capitol Room 6012
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Darrell Steinberg
Senate President pro Tem
State Capitol Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Bob Dutton
Senate Republican Leader
State Capitol Room 305
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Mark Leno, Chair
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
State Capitol Room 5100
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Bob Huff, Vice Chair
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
State Capitol Room 5097
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Carol Liu, Chair
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1
State Capitol Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814

CLA, Libraries, Adult Learners and Volunteer Tutors Thank You for Your Help !

Corona Library - National Dyslexia Awareness Month

EDUCATION: Know signs of dyslexia, get help
Press Enterprise: 10.01.2013 by Dayna Straehley

It’s October, which is also National Dyslexia Awareness Month.

The International Dyslexia Association says 1 in 10 people have symptoms dyslexia, a language-based learning disability, or learning difference as advocates say, that has nothing to do with intelligence or the desire to learn.

Children with dyslexia are bright, capable and able to go on to college and successful careers, the association says. Children with dyslexia simply learn differently. Many top CEOs, scientists, artists and entrepreneurs are dyslexic.

So is Corona-Norco school board member John Zickefoose, who says he struggled with learning disabilities from elementary through high school. He finally worked up the nerve to walk into the Corona Public Library at age 35 and ask for help to learn to read.

Zickefoose went on to a career at the library as outreach coordinator, a position on the board of an international literacy organization and election to the school board. He made his own struggles with literacy part of his campaign, going more public than most.  READ MORE !

.   .   . some local events

Dislecksia: The Movie
National Screenings  - October 17
Hazard Center 7, 7510 Hazard Center Dr, SD

will open theatrically in the US throughout October in conjunction with National Dyslexia Awareness Month.
 Oct. 21: F.A.T. City: How Difficult Can This Be? - Video @5:45pm

Rancho Cucamonga Resource Center, 9791 Arrow Route

Oct. 24: The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia @7 pm
AMC Fashion Valley 18, San Diego CA

In Memoriam :: Steve Armstrong

Corona library employee, literacy booster dies
Press-Enterprise: 10.23.08 by Alicia Robinson

Corona lost a library worker, community volunteer and literacy booster Saturday when Steve Armstrong died of kidney cancer.

Mr. Armstrong, the library's support services division manager, was 50.

Originally from Pomona, Mr. Armstrong worked in Los Angeles County and Glendora libraries before moving to Corona in 2002.

He oversaw literacy and circulation services, worked to raise funds for the library foundation, and volunteered for the Relay for Life, library Director Julie Fredericksen said.

"He was just one of those people that everyone loved talking to," Fredericksen said. "He had a real curiosity about people."

Literacy as a tool: Library director finds niche in helping folks
Press Enterprise: July 1, 2005 by Jerry Soifer

Steve Armstrong, a former businessman-turned-librarian, knows about transformations. Armstrong has been a record-store assistant manager, a paint company accountant and a hospital accountant.

Then Armstrong took an interest in literacy, earning a bachelor's degree from the University of La Verne in 1990 and a master's degree two years later. Now, at 47, he's the director of special services for Corona Public Library. He oversees the literacy program, community liaison, outreach office, the heritage room and the library foundation.

He lives in Rancho Cucamonga with his two golden retrievers. "He's really found his niche," said John Zickefoose, Corona's community liaison at the library. "People think of libraries as books. We're far more than that. We're taking care of people. He's really good at that."

10 Things Tutors Can Do That Books (And Computers) Cannot . . .

10 Things Tutors Can Do That Books (And Computers) Cannot . . .farrelink.com: 12.07.2011

1. SMILE ! and 10. LISTEN !

2. Read aloud together.
Fluency (reading smoothly and with correct inflection) is very important to reading comprehension, but only speaking with other human beings can fully build this skill.

3. Model curiosity and inquiry.
Being a good tutor isn’t about what you know; it’s about showing how you know and showing others how to learn. Demonstrate the use of reference materials, and ask open ended questions that make you both think a little deeper about a topic.

4. Figure out how the skill is relevant to the learner’s life.
Every person has different goals and life experiences. Ask your learner “What should I know about you?” Write down what you hear, and then connect that information to what you are learning together. READ MORE !

Photo: John Zickefoose, Literacy Coordinator - Corona Public Library

SCLLN Literacy Library Tutor Training Calendar :: June 2017

SCLLN Literacy Library Tutor Training Calendar

June 2017

For Local, California and National

Literacy or Library Conferences and Events

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

Calendar

27th Annual Tutor Conference Brochure/Registration

Jun 01 Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation South Bay Literacy Torrance Library 7p

Jun 03 Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Luis Obispo Library 10a

Jun 06 Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation Carlsbad Library 12N

Jun 07 Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Bernardino Co Library Fontana 5p

Jun 07 CLEO-Confessions of an Illiterate Adult & John Zickefoose Corona Library 7p

Jun 08 Adult Literacy Tutor Training Burbank Library 6p

Jun 10 Conference READ/San Diego USD

Jun 10 Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Bernardino Co Library Rialto 10a

Jun 10 Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Bernardino Co Library Adelanto 12N

Jun 12 Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation Ventura County Library 5p

Jun 13 Literacy Awards & Meeting Huntington Beach Library 6:30p

Jun 15 Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation Carlsbad Library 6p

Jun 15 Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Bernardino Co Library Big Bear 4p

Jun 17 Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Diego Co Library El Cajon 10a

Jun 17 Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Bernardino Co Library 29 Palms 9a

Jun 19 Adult Literacy Volunteer Orientation Corona Library 7p
Jun 20 Adult Literacy Tutor Training READ/San Diego Library 9a

Beverly Hills Library Adult Literacy: last Friday month 10:30 - 12 N

LAPL Adult Literacy volunteers receive 7 hours of Online Instruction

Local Tutor Workshops :: Always Scrolling in the Right Frame

Corona Library :: Literacy as a tool: Library director finds niche in helping folks

Literacy as a tool: Library director finds niche in helping folks
Press Enterprise: July 1, 2005 by Jerry Soifer

Steve Armstrong, a former businessman-turned-librarian, knows about transformations. Armstrong has been a record-store assistant manager, a paint company accountant and a hospital accountant.

Then Armstrong took an interest in literacy, earning a bachelor's degree from the University of La Verne in 1990 and a master's degree two years later. Now, at 47, he's the director of special services for Corona Public Library. He oversees the literacy program, community liaison, outreach office, the heritage room and the library foundation.

He lives in Rancho Cucamonga with his two golden retrievers. "He's really found his niche," said John Zickefoose, Corona's community liaison at the library. "People think of libraries as books. We're far more than that. We're taking care of people. He's really good at that."

On July 16, Armstrong will oversee the transformation of the library into a variety of settings from Agatha Christie's 1934 mystery novel, "Murder on the Orient Express," as part of a fundraising event.

The children's room will become Istanbul, Turkey, where food such as spicy shrimp skewers will be served. The teen area will become Milan, Italy, with appropriate food. The periodicals section will become the Serbian capital of Belgrade with shepherd's bread on the menu.

The community room will take on a Paris theme with mini-cream puffs covered with chocolate sauce being served. Children from the Christian Arts Theater are scheduled to sing and dance.

The event is the first major fundraiser for the library's foundation in its 20-year history, Armstrong said.

Inspired To Help

In 1987, Armstrong saw the made-for-television movie "Bluffing It" starring Dennis Weaver, who kept his inability to read or write a secret. The movie inspired Armstrong to volunteer as a tutor at the Los Angeles County Public Library in La Verne. There he met Irish immigrant William Heeney, a construction worker who never finished school in his native Dublin.

Heeney said in a phone interview that he would often get lost in Southern California because he could not read a map. Heeney, who lives in Alta Loma, also saw the movie, which inspired him to enroll in the Mount San Antonio College literacy program. There he was placed in a class with young people, where he felt out of place.

Heeney, now 43, sought help at the library in La Verne where he met Armstrong. They worked together for five years. "Steve is like a brother to me," said Heeney. "He's one of the best people I've ever met. He did so much for me. I will be forever grateful to the man."

Heeney eventually became a construction foreman. He said he lives in a different world than before. Armstrong said Heeney did a lot for him, inspiring him to go back to college and earn a degree.

Before meeting Heeney, Armstrong preferred work to study. "I liked being self-sufficient, making money, being independent," he said .

Heeney convinced Armstrong he belonged in a library. At the time, Armstrong wasn't happy with his work at a rehabilitation hospital in Pomona. "I was doing a lot of collection work," said Armstrong. "I wanted to help people, not collect money from them."

Armstrong attended Citrus College in Azusa off and on for 13 years before enrolling at the University of La Verne.
He went to work at the Glendora library in 1993 and rose to the position of development and educational services director. Heeney said of Armstrong, "He turned me around more than I turned his life around."

National & International Literacy & Library Events: February 2014

National & International Literacy & Library Events:

February 2014 

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- Local, California and National -

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

February: African American READ-IN

Feb. 1  Take Your Child to the Library Day

Feb. 1+ National Reading Recovery Literacy Conf, Columbus OH

Feb. 5  Digital Learning Day

Feb. 6  “No Child Left Out” Education Conf, Isle of Palms SC

Feb. 9+ Arizona Adult Literacy Week

Feb. 14+ Literacy for/and Social Justice, Athens GA

Feb. 14  Book Giving Day GLOBAL

Feb. 15  Autism Sensory Friendly Films LEGO 10a

Feb. 17+ National Conf on Family Literacy, Washington DC

Feb. 19+ Learning Disabilities Assoc of America, Anaheim CA

Feb. 20  John Zickefoose "Yes You Can" LDA Conf Luncheon, Anaheim CA

Feb. 27  Literacy Education Advocacy Day