February 28 Open House
OPEN DOORS: March 2015 by Susie Hodge
In the library lobby, as patrons strolled
by, literacy volunteers stood in wait at tables loaded with literacy
information, anxious to share the joy and satisfaction of teaching another to
read. Some patrons stopped by to chat, others purchased literacy t-shirts,
totes or cookbooks.
The goal of the 2nd Literacy Open House,
held Saturday, February 28, was to bring community awareness to the literacy
program; sign-up new tutors, and let those who need help with reading know that
Literacy Services is a safe and accepting place to be. Across the way in the
Talbert room, books and literacy brochures chosen to pique the interest of
possible volunteers awaited perusal.
Tutor Semora McCampbell provided
entertaining crafts for all participants, young and old alike. Guest speaker
and past learner Edit F., who had left the program to become a lawyer,
reminisced along with her former tutor, Natalie Van Doren.
Literacy founder, Linda Light, was able to
stop by for a while to see how the program she began over 30 years ago was
faring. In the background, a spectacular video produced by Ree Miller scrolled
through photos of literary days past. Near the children's department, in the
shadow of the aquarium, Asmat and Therese sold trinkets such as key chains and
finger puppets to children who swarmed past as they exited from Story Time. At
one point, several young customers noticed the novel finger puppets and bought
the whole box.
Helen Charles reported that, as a result of
their efforts, a number of potential tutors have shown interest in the program,
and new learners may be feeling a little less scared about walking through that
literacy door.
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