Beaumont Library - Literacy becomes mobile with Beaumont Library’s ‘Ready to Read’ van

Literacy becomes mobile with Beaumont Library’s ‘Ready to Read’ van
Record Gazette: 7.24.2012

The Board of Trustees of the Beaumont Library District announces the arrival of the Ready to Read Van, provided through a grant from the Federal Library Services and Technology Act.

The $90,000 Community Early Literacy Project was created to take early literacy services out of the library to children from birth to five years old.

The services are designed for children at facilities that provide childcare and at preschools throughout the library district. Nearly 2,000 items will be available on the Ready to Read Van for Childcare providers to select from during each visit by the van.

“The Ready to Read Van gives us an option to work more closely with our community on the critical importance of early literacy skill development for young children,” stated Nancy Wood, Outreach Librarian, “We can deliver books, learning kits, and storytime materials, along with training for their use, in an environment where the message of read early and read often has proven of critical importance to ensure children enter their school years ready to learn to read.”

The Ready to Read Van made its local debut appearance in the annual Cherry Festival Parade and was shown off nationally at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Anaheim at the end of June.

“The van displays original art provided by Michael Emberley, a children’s book illustrator, whose artwork so clearly captured the joy of reading and the essence of the early learning experience in the book An Annoying ABC by Barbara Bottner,” said Clara DiFelice, Library Director. “We took a chance and asked him if we could use the artwork and were thrilled when he said sure!”

Childcare providers and preschoolers throughout Beaumont and Cherry Valley are encouraged to contact Nancy Wood at the library at (951) 845-3222, to schedule a visit by the Ready to Read Van.

Costly Cuts: $7 million cut from adult literacy programs

STATE: $7 million cut from adult literacy programs
Press Enterprise: 12.16.2011 by Kevin Pearson

Library directors across the region are worried about the future of adult literacy programs in the wake of sweeping budget cuts the state announced this week.

If the programs don’t survive, people like Beaumont’s Larry Washington may never learn to read.

Washington, 57, is one of hundreds of adults in Riverside County who are enrolled in those state-funded programs that teach adults how to read and write.

Among almost $1 billion in total budget cuts, roughly $16 million will be slashed from libraries, including about $7 million designated to fund literacy programs.

Eight libraries in the Inland area have literacy programs, which are for native English speakers. The amount of state money they had been receiving was based on population.

“This is devastating to California libraries,” said Hemet Library Director Wayne Disher, who serves as president of the California Library Association. “It’s really sad. You try and be as positive as you can, but how do you do that when someone has taken everything you have?

“I think we will see a good portion of them, at least half of the literacy programs, will be forced to close.”

COSTLY CUTS

But how much longer those services will remain is in doubt. In Hemet, Disher is hoping the library’s financial backers can help secure the $15,000 needed to keep the 90-person adult literacy program afloat through the end of the fiscal year June 30, but he is worried what might happen if the money runs out.

A number of Inland libraries had already begun to brace for budget cuts, which extend beyond the adult literacy programs, but others were hopeful that the governor would keep some of the funding intact. But with all the funds cut, libraries are now pondering their next move. READ MORE !

Beaumont Library: Happy 100th Birthday

BEAUMONT: Library district to celebrate 100th anniversary
Press Enterprise: 8.6.2011 by Erin Waldner

The Beaumont Library District will celebrate its 100th anniversary Aug. 13 with a slew of public festivities.

The district was formed by popular vote Aug. 12, 1911.

"I always tell people, 'The library will be one hundred (years) and one day (old) when we have the celebration,'" said employee Lucy Sims, who is organizing the affair.

For the celebration, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library, 125 E. Eighth St., the district is presenting a memory festival.

"It is a gathering of people in a community to share memories of themselves and organizations," Sims said.

People will be invited to make squares for a quilt that will be hung in the library's community room. In addition, adults can make memory cards, a type of greeting card that will read "remember when" on the cover. People are asked to sign up for the memory card program in advance.

The Beaumont Library District will commemorate its 100th anniversary on Saturday with a memory festival theme. The community event will be held at the library, 125 E. Eighth St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day will be filled with journaling, quilting, games, crafts, music, food and taped oral histories. READ MORE !

Beaumont Library: To Teach How Best To Read To Children Literacy Matters

Beaumont Program To Teach How Best To Read To Children
“Literacy Matters”
Press Enterprise: January 26, 2010 by Monique R Henderson

Many parents, grandparents and other caregivers have heard that they should be reading to the children in their lives.

But Beaumont Library District Program Manager Lucy Sims says that often, adult patrons have questions about exactly how they should read to children, and how children can benefit most from the practice.

Those and other questions will be addressed by UCLA professor and author Virginia Walter on Thursday evening in a free literacy program at the Beaumont Civic Center.

Walter is a professor and chairwoman of the Department of Information Studies in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA.

Beaumont Civic Center - 550 E Sixth St
6:30 p.m. Thursday; registration begins at 6:15
Information: 951 . 845 . 1357

Beaumont Library - Stories Will be Told on the Porch:

Stories Will be Told on the Porch:
Tuesday the library will host a reading of mostly kids stories.
Press-Enterprise: September 6, 2009 by Erin Waldner

The Beaumont Library District plans it annual "Stories from the Porch - A Reading Celebration" on Tuesday.

What happens at the event? Community members will be doing just that, reading aloud stories from the actual porch on the front of the library.

Lucy Sims, adult literacy program manager at the library, said all are welcome to come and listen to books mostly geared toward children.

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"Stories from the Porch" is in recognition of International Literacy Day, meant to highlight the problem of international illiteracy.

"Twenty percent of the world is functioning illiterate," Sims said. READ MORE !

Adult Literacy Awareness Month

Adult Literacy Awareness Month
spotlight on SCLLN literacy programs

Anaheim Public Library Adult Literacy

714 . 765 . 1880

Anaheim offers tutoring for adults who want to improve their reading, writing, spelling and communication skills. The tutors are volunteers from the community who are trained and able to help. Services are free.

READ/OC Literacy operates the Anaheim Public Library adult literacy program. Please call or contact them by email for additional information. 714 . 566 . 3070

Adult Literacy Program at Beaumont Library District

THE PROBLEM
One out of every five American adults has trouble with day-to-day literacy activities. Things like reading a prescription label, writing a phone message, identifying the differences between cat food and tuna- fish are impossible tasks. This does not mean these adults lack intelligence. It simply means they did not get the kind of reading and writing help they needed when they were young. The problem exists in big cities and in rural areas. It exists in Beaumont.

THE SOLUTION
In 1993, the Beaumont Library District under the administration of Clara DiFelice Library, Director received funding from the California Literacy Campaign and the U.S. Department of Education to start a literacy program. She engaged La Vergne Rosow to design and coordinate a leading edge volunteer program based on her research. Twelve members of the community volunteered to become the pilot tutors. Each volunteered for a minimum of 50 hours or six months of student contact time after being paired up with an adult learner, based on convenient times for both. Most served as volunteers for considerably longer. Learners heard about the program from fliers, newspapers, TV public service announcements, radio programming, or word-of-mouth. Initially, most met at the Beaumont Library. As the program grew, the Beaumont community provided quiet places where two people could work together. The San Gorgonio Hospital and Wyle Labs accommodated the cause of literacy.

Beaumont Library - Adding Services

Beaumont Library adding servicesRecord Gazette: June 14, 2007

The Beaumont Library Board of Trustees has appointed Lucy Johnson-Sims to administer Adult Literacy Services at the library. The library applied for and was awarded funding from the California State Library to implement the program. Based on community needs assessments submitted by citizens, literacy was one of the priorities they felt was needed in Beaumont.

Sims brings to the program a wealth of knowledge in the field of adult and family literacy. She has many years of experience and is recognized throughout California for her expertise in the field. As the program manager, her duties will include community outreach, recruiting and training volunteers, as well as recruiting and assessing adult learners to be matched with volunteer tutors.

In addition, the library is undergoing a face-lift. Renovations are underway upstairs to create additional office space for adult and early literacy programs. Soon, the library will complete ADA requirements, as an elevator will be installed before the end of the year. The library will close down for two-weeks in August to complete additional renovations downstairs.

Anyone looking for a volunteer activity that will bring them enjoyment and satisfaction should contact the library about becoming a volunteer tutor. Tutors will be trained and will receive support from the library literacy staff and materials and supplies will be provided. Also, anyone who knows someone needing help with basic reading, writing and mathematic skills should have them contact the library at 845-1357.