CLARION Spring Issue - Literacy

CLArion

A Publication of the California Library Association
Volume 5 • Issue 1 • April 2009

Welcome to the spring issue of CLARION everyone!

Dedicating this issue to literacy is so appropriate because just as the spring season is a time of rebirth and renewal, library literacy services allow those involved to experience a type of rebirth and improvement in their lives. And certainly at the heart of any library, no matter which type, is the improvement of our users’ literacy in many areas:

• Basic literacy
• Early literacy
• Computer literacy
• Information literacy
• Consumer literacy
• Family literacy

I hope you find the articles here inspiring and perhaps, throughout this issue, identify people with whom you might partner or share information. As we all deal with our budgets this year, let’s remember that literacy programs should be considered basic core services and not partially or underfunded “extra” programs. Some of us, I know, need to fight for that core funding and are particularly grateful to the state library’s literacy grant programs that allow us to provide these essential services.

To all who work with literacy in all its forms, thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment. Thank you for being the champions of providing people with the opportunity to be not only literate, but smarter and better informed in their lives. In these times of economic upheaval and information overload it is more important than ever for libraries to let their constituents, their politicians, and their stakeholders know how our literacy efforts impact the lives of those we serve. Don’t be shy; market the fabulous results of your programs.

Speaking of being better informed, the CLA Transition Tool Kit has been distributed to chairs of current sections, round tables and committees. It is also available on the CLA website. I hope everyone has an opportunity to take a look at this document so we are all better informed about the transition to our new governance structure.

Barbara L. Roberts
2009 California Library Association President

Table of Contents
~ California Library Literacy Services By Susan Hildreth
~ The Wednesday Night Readers By John Gildersleeve
~ The CLLS AmeriCorps Initiative By Susan Empizo
~ Adult Learners Leading the Way By Shanti Bhaskaran and Rosie Manela
~ The Business of Building Hope in Salinas By Mary Ellison and Elizabeth Martinez
~ Writer to Writer Challenge By Shanti Bhaskaran
~ Changing Lives in Solano County By Ann Cousineau
~ Adult Learner and Tutor Profiles

Click on links for more information about:
Writer to Writer
Adult Learners Leading the Way [ ALLI ]