BlogAThon - Finale

Well, a long, long day. Let's just 'bookend' the event with a modified post announcing my first attempt at Blogathon.

Blogathon began yesterday at 6:00 am. Bloggers from around the world blogged for one day to help charities around the globe. We posted every 30 minutes over a 24 hour period; at one the time just became a blur -know there are extra posts, double posts, probably some within minutes of each other.

For this, we collected sponsorships and pledges. They could be a flat donation, or a certain amount for every hour we managed to stay awake.

It's not too late, go to Blogathon, choose ‘Southern California Library Literacy Network,’ and PLEDGE !

Or you can to go the SCLLN ‘Donations Page’ and send a Donation.

And continue to use GoodSearch: 1000 people @ 2 searches a day = $7,300

SCLLN is a network of literacy programs in public libraries from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

In 2006:
8,870 Adult Learners
5,586 Volunteer Tutors
358,604 Hours of Free Tutoring
Families For Literacy program
7,015 children under 5
8,844 children over 5
received 103,709 Free Books

SCLLN thanks you for your support !

BlogAThon - Library

Library Economic Value

Worth Their Weight: An Assessment of the Evolving Field of Library ValuationThe Americans for Libraries Council newest report offers researchers and advocates an overview of the cutting-edge field of library valuation, or models for expressing a library's multiple contributions to its community in dollars and cents. Libraries for the Future

Library Use Value Calculator:

What is your library worth to you?
How much would you pay out-of-pocket for your library services?
Use Kern County Library's calculator to find out.

This worksheet was originally provided by the Massachusetts Library Association, then adapted for the web by Chelmsford Public Library. The Maine State Library added extra accessibility coding and reformatting for ease of reading online; feel free to link the calculator where ever your library is. The Maine State Library site shows how the figures were calculated and how to customize and use on any library web site. The spreadsheet requires either Microsoft Excel or an Excel viewer.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Literacy Blogs

Some interesting literacy blogs to visit:

Adult Learner Blogs

Project Read - San Francisco Public Library
~ a friendly little internet site offering some helpful literacy tips, strategies, and resources

Literacy Blogs

Literacies Cafe - Toronto
~ Chit chat from literacies, a magazine from canada about adult literacy research and practice

Literacy News - Canada
~ Your source for literacy news and literacy development

Newton Free Library
~ Talk Time for Tutors

Literacy Changes
~ Kids, Special Ed., Occupational Therapy, Graphic Organizers, Text-to-Speech

Literacy Matters
~ 21st Century Literacies: The Challenge, The Opportunity, The Tools. What now?

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - News

from PRNewswire: 7.25.07

On Labor Day, preschoolers can step into a world where words truly are the stars of the show. "WordWorld," debuting Sept. 3, 2007, on PBS KIDS(R) (check local listings), is a 3-D animated series funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education, which encourages three- to five-year-old children to become friends with words.

The show makes preparing to read so much fun that kids will laugh out loud as they learn. "WordWorld" playfully brings words to life through a patent-pending methodology that embeds words into the objects they represent.

In each episode, children will explore their world of words. "WordWorld's" humorous storylines focus on age-appropriate social-emotional lessons while introducing preschoolers to key literacy-based skills, such as letter recognition and phonological awareness.

"'WordWorld' is an adventure series that makes words tangible by introducing preschoolers to a world of words that come alive right before their eyes," said Don Moody, founder and CEO of Word World, LLC. "The novelty of the show is that when a word is formed correctly, it morphs into the character or thing it represents, which makes learning to a read a totally new experience.

Our goal is to help preschoolers prepare for reading by telling engaging stories that are fun, sparking their imaginations and fostering a love for words."



A sneak preview.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - SCLLN

SCLLN' s Flickr account is certainly worth a visit.

There are about 100 photos that tell part of the story of literacy in Southern California.

We also have a number of contact with more photos about literacy and libraries.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Covina Public Library

The Second Start Literacy Program is a library-based literacy service with a mission of assisting English-speaking adults who wish to improve basic literacy skills and school-aged children that need additional help to succeed in school.

Trained volunteers and staff strive to create a learning environment that promotes self-esteem and helps learners to participate more effectively and productively in society. Lessons are individualized, confidential, and highly goal oriented. Tutors structure the learning process around the goals of the learner using materials that relate to those goals. The service is provided free of charge and on a one-to-one basis.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - LD

SCLLN links for LD: organziations and Technology

Learning Disabilities

AVKO Dyslexia Research Foundation
International Dyslexia Association
L D Association of California
L D Online
Literacy and Learning Disabilities
National Center for Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities: Assistive Technology

Abilility Hub
ABLEDATA
Boston Public Schools Access Technology Center (pdf.file)
Closing the Gap
Dyslexic Adult Links
KATS Network-Vision
KATS Network-Disability
LD and Assistive Technologies
Untangling the Web

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Upland Public Library

Reading for a brighter tomorrow

The Upland Public Library is a site of the West End Literacy League, a joint program between the Rancho Cucamonga and Upland Public Libraries. Since its inception in 1989, the Adult Literacy program has helped over 1,000 English-speaking adults improve their basic reading and writing skills, and the program can help you or someone you know. Adult learners are matched with trained volunteers for free one-to-one tutoring. Instruction is based on the learner's needs and goals.

Adult Literacy Book Club
First Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m.
Starting October 3, 2006
Adult learners discuss books and meet other aspiring readers in their own book club. Each book club member receives a free copy of the book to be discussed. Please check the Library Calendar for specific dates. Grant restrictions limit participation to adult literacy learners and tutors only; please contact the Literacy Office to pre-register, (909) 931-4212.

Ready-Set-Read
As an outreach service, the Upland Literacy Program coordinates the "Books for Babies" project. This is a joint effort to nurture literacy at an early age by providing a Ready-Set-Read kit to new parents who visit the San Antonio Community Hospital's Healthy Beginnings Family Care Center. These bilingual (English/Spanish) kits provide information about the benefits of reading to baby, tips on how to read to baby, a list of appropriate titles, a list of parenting books, information about the four participating libraries, a board book, and a coupon to be redeemed for another board book at any one of the four libraries. The Upland Public Library, in partnership with the Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, and San Bernardino County Libraries, provides the "Read-Set-Read" Kits. For additional information about this program, call any of the participating libraries or the Healthy Beginnings Family Care Center at (909) 980-BABY.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAthon - Riverside County Library

Riverside County Public Library



To help English-speaking adults improve their literacy skills so they may fulfill their personal goals and take advantage of opportunities as lifelong learners.


Annual Facts

• 175 Tutors Trained

• 150 Students Matched

• 60 Families Served

• 10,000 Instructional Hours

• 600 Talent and Support Hours

• 4 Full - Time Staff Members

• Population of Area Served - 760,000

• Number of Literacy Sites/Centers - 3

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Imperial County Free Library

Help for Reading or Writing

Help is available for adults 16 years of age and older who would like to improve their English-language reading and writing. It can be help to begin reading, or help in learning how to read better.

The Imperial County Free Library offers free, confidential help in conjunction with Literacy Volunteers of America/Imperial Valley. Interested persons can call LVA/IV at 352-8541 to inquire further.

Also in conjunction with LVA/IV, the County Library system offers Families for Literacy (FFL) programs for adult learners and their children under 5. The FFL story times are held once a month, September through May, at the Calipatria, Heber and Holtville Branches. See our calendar or call staff at those locations for further information on this program.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Banned Books

"And Tango Makes Three" tops ALA's 2006 list of most challenged books: 3.06.07

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) received a total of 546 challenges last year.

A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school, requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. Public libraries, schools and school libraries report the majority of challenges to OIF.

"The number of challenges reflects only incidents reported," said Judith F. Krug, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. "For each reported challenge, four or five likely remain unreported.

"The "10 Most Challenged Books of 2006" reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

"And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

"Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar

"Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

"The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler

"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

"Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz

"Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

"Beloved" by Toni Morrison

"The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Off the list this year, but on for several years past, are the "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain.

@Your Local Library - CalCat or WorldCat

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Burbank Public Library

Check their Blog
http://burbanklibrary.blogspot.com

BlogAThon - Palmdale City Library

Palmdale Library Literacy Program

Did you know that one out of five American adults cannot read well enough to fill out a job application, understand the instructions on a prescription bottle, or read a bedtime story to their child? That means in the City of Palmdale, there could easily be over 17,500 adults who have problems reading and writing English.

In 1991, Congress defined literacy as "an individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English," but added to this traditional definition the abilities to compute and solve problems in order for an individual to "function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals, and develop one's knowledge and potential." The new focus, in other words, is on functional literacy.

The Palmdale City Library's Literacy Program is designed for English-speaking adults who want to improve their reading and writing skills. The Literacy Coordinator provides regularly scheduled training sessions for volunteer tutors. Once trained, each tutor then works one-on-one with an assigned learner.

Someone you know could have difficulty reading or writing and you might never be aware of the problem. Functionally illiterate adults mask their deficiencies well. They listen to and observe the world very carefully. They memorize. They ask their trusted family members and friends to read and write for them. It is embarrassing for them to admit that they cannot read or write "like everybody else." However, given encouragement and guidance in a safe and comfortable setting, most of them can and will improve their literacy skills. The Palmdale Library Literacy Program provides that environment and level of support.

The Literacy offices are located in the Chimbole Cultural Center. If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about this worthwhile project, please call 267-5600.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Wiki

The Adult Literacy Education (ALE) Wiki! *

Learn about adult literacy education here, including English language learning, numeracy, and adult basic and secondary education. Add knowledge from your experience teaching adult learners, from research or professional wisdom, or from your experience as an adult learner.

The ALE Wiki is a community of practice with links to research for practitioners, researchers, learners and others. Although some people add to the discussion here, unlike an electronic list where dialogue may be frequent and lively, for the most part discussion archived here has taken place on electronic lists elsewhere.

Basic Literacy Topics - one of many Topics

Contributory Causes of Adults' Low Literacy:

~ What are the various reasons that adults in the United States have low literacy skills?


Teaching Reading to Adults:

~ What are the best strategies for teaching reading to adults?

Adult New Readers Who Plateau at the Second or Third Grade Level

Optimum Size for Basic Literacy Classes

Basic Literacy Assessment

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - MySpace

Check out SCLLN on MySpace !

Millions of adults in this country are unable to read at functional level. The Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN) is a coalition of libraries who provide free tutoring services to these adults.

Do you have three hours to donate to a low literate adult ?

Or maybe you would like to support the mission by offering a small contribution.

Please visit http://www.sclln.org/.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - READ/San Diego

READ/San Diego

In San Diego County, approximately 422,000 adults cannot read and write well enough to meet everyday needs and pursue professional goals.

The Library's READ/San Diego program is a free literacy, English as a Second Language and family literacy instruction service for adults 18 years and older.

Staffed by literacy professionals, READ/San Diego coordinates the efforts of volunteer reading tutors and cooperates with local adult schools, community colleges and other literacy education providers in making and receiving student referrals.

Each year, the program assists more than 1,000 adult students from various backgrounds and learning levels.

Adult Literacy Program Phone: 619-527-5475
Serving the City FAX: 619-527-5485
of San Diego Email: readstaff@sandiego.gov

Workshop Schedule

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Books

from Blogger News Network - Simon Barrett

I am involved with adult literacy and was delighted to read Desert Claw, there are so few books available that can be utilized in improving adult literacy. I know that often children’s books are used in literacy programs and this creates a stigma for the adult learner.

Damien Lewis does in 125 pages of oversize type what authors such as Tom Clancy would take 800 pages to achieve. Damien leaves out the long and usually pointless scene settings, and endless pages of boring minutia. He just gets right into the tale.

In this case the story involves 4 ex UK Special Forces members who are invited to take part in a ‘black operation’. Their mission is to go into war torn Iraq and liberate a Van Gough painting that was looted from one of Saddam’s palaces.

Right from the start our hero’s smell a rat, there are many aspects of this operation that are bothering them, but the money that they are offered becomes an overriding factor. It may not be quite enough to retire on, but certainly enough to have a great deal of fun with.

I wish more famous authors like Damien Lewis would take some time off from the regular writing regimen and produce a ‘Quick Read’.

Quick Reads is a major initiative from British publishers, booksellers and writers, launched in 2006. Twelve of the biggest names in fiction and non-fiction will publish short, fast-paced new books designed to encourage reluctant readers to get hooked on books.

Also available in Large Print and Audio.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - San Bernardino Public Library

Since 1986, CARTOONISTS ACROSS AMERICA founder Phil Yeh has criss-crossed the globe using artwork and humor to promote literacy, the environment, creativity and other positive issues.

He and the internationally known group kicked off California's statewide literacy promotion in Sacramento: 'Literacy: It's A Whole New World." They led a group of adults and kids in painting a literacy mural on a Yolo County Library bookmobile.

Last year, he drew a crowd at San Bernardino's Norman F. Feldheym Central Library.

Yeh is creator of the befuddled Patrick Rabbit and a menagerie of witty dinosaurs and other wise and wonderful critters.

He is a passionate children's literacy advocate.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Newport Beach Public Library

The Need

"There is no literacy problem in Newport Beach!" This is a common response from the community. In fact, there is a great need for Newport Beach Public Library Literacy Services.

The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy states that there are 93 million adults in the United States that demonstrate, at best, only basic literacy skills. This is almost 1/2 of the adult population of the U.S.

Approximately 10.5 million of these adults are in California; 350,000 of them reside in Orange County and over 7,000 are our friends and neighbors in Newport Beach. Many of these adults are immigrants that are hoping to become an active part of our community. Some are people who have slipped through the cracks of our system and are tired of just "getting by." Whatever the reasons, they are 7,000 people that need help.

The effects of adults who struggle with literacy impact each and every one of us. Did you know that adults with low literacy skills ....

Are less likely to vote and integrate into our system
Are suffering from more health problems and lose more time from work
Are not able to advocate for themselves or their children
Are more likely to spend time in jail or prison
Are more than twice as likely to receive public assistance
Are not able to help their children succeed in school, thus perpetuating the problem of illiteracy

contact literacy services: (949) 717-3874

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Statistics

Literacy skills show decline with age:
Reading for pleasure helps fight drop
Edmonton Journal: July 7, 2007 by Shannon Proudfoot,CanWest News Service

Most Canadians, but especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, experience "significant" literacy loss as adults, a Statistics Canada report shows.

The decline in skills begins at age 25, peaks around 40 and then tapers off around 55 years old. For example, adults aged 40 scored an average of 288 on a standardized literacy test in 1994, but in a second survey nine years later, that had dropped to 275 -- a loss of reading ability equal to half a year of schooling.

Over their lifetime, the average Canadian will lose about one grade's worth of literacy skills, the report estimates."Literacy is not a static commodity that is acquired in youth and maintained throughout life," it concludes.More education mitigates the decline, with university graduates scoring about 30 points higher than high school grads.


People who didn't complete secondary school scored nearly 50 points lower than those who did, while employed Canadians scored 12 points higher than those not in the labour force.


The reading people do at work helps, but not nearly as much as reading a variety of materials for pleasure at home.


The data came from a series of international literacy surveys conducted in 1994 and 2003, with StatsCan gathering the Canadian component. This report focused on native-born Canadians, though other surveys show immigrants have significantly more literacy difficulties. More

For Overview & Highlights:

ABC Canada
ALL Literacy Survey

Blogathon 2007