Santa Paula Blanchard Library :: BEST Adult Learning Center Awarded Family Literacy Grants

BEST Adult Learning Center Awarded Family Literacy Grants

Blanchard Library Blog: 4.23 2019

A $45,000 grant from the California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) and a $10,000 grant from the American Library Association (ALA) will help support a unique family literacy program at Blanchard Community Library (BCL) that aims to help immigrant families better advocate for their children through improved English and by building the social skills and confidence necessary to participate in an English-speaking world.

The Mommy & Me Literacy program was launched in 2017 at BCL with the purpose of improving reading and writing skills for adults with preschool age children. Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72% chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves, according to the national adult literacy organization, ProLiteracy.

To address this statistic, Mommy & Me Literacy strives to lift the English proficiency of parents through traditional language classes while also carving out time for parents to practice early-learning activities with their own children.  Mommy & child spend time together reinforcing the family bond, playing, singing, and building strong reading habits—and exploring the library together.  In addition, once a week, an interactive curriculum, Abriendo Puertas/ Opening Doors helps parents develop their role as their child’s first teacher and strongest advocate.

CLA Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award 2017 :: Ned Branch, Blanchard Community Library

Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award

CLA: 2017

Ned Branch, Blanchard Community Library

Four years ago, when the Blanchard Community Library in Santa Paula, California, found itself in the midst of legal, financial, and administrative difficulties, the Board of Trustees hired Ned Branch to turn around the library.

Previously, he worked in private post-secondary education for 27 years, having been affiliated with institutions in Northern and Southern California and Oregon.  During that time, he also frequently served as a member of accreditation review teams and worked extensively with state education agencies. His experience enabled him to put the library on solid financial foundation and to build a team of dedicated people to provide for the library’s future success. During the most recent school year, he initiated a partnership among the local school district, First Five of California, and the library to provide daytime ESL classes for parents and preschool instruction for children while the parents were in class. The district, First Five, and the library recently agreed to continue the program in the 2017-18 school year.

Last year the Santa Paula Latino Town Hall honored the library with its annual Community Service award, and this year the local Chamber of Commerce designated the library as the 2016 Non-Profit of the Year. Throughout his career, Ned has endeavored to help individuals change their lives for the better through education.  His commitment to adult literacy stems from his belief that literacy changes not only the life of the learner but also the learner’s children and, in turn, their children.

CLA's Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award recognizes a librarian who has demonstrated passion, excellence and dedication in support of adult literacy. One award is given each year and the recipient is honored at the CLA annual conference.

Past award recipients

Heather Pizzuto, Carlsbad City Library (2016) 

Jayanti Addleman, Monterey County Free Libraries (2015) 

Natasha Casteel, Roseville Public Library (2014) 

Patricia Noa, OC Public Libraries (2013)

Christy Aguirre, Sacramento Public Library (2012)

Patricia Lorenzo, Santa Clara County Library (2011)

Anne Cain, Contra Costa County Library (2010)

Derek Wolfgram, Santa Clara County Library (2009)

Jean Hofacket, Alameda County Library (2008)

Carol Starr, Marin County Free Library (2007)

John M. Adams, Orange County Public Library (2006)

Sofia Bellos, Oxnard Public Library (2005)

Leslie McGinnis, Oakland Public Library (2004)

Chuck Aston, Redwood City Public Library (2003)

Sponsored by the Library of Congress Literacy Awards, BALit, SCLLN, and NCLC

Submit your nomination for the Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award

Adult Literacy Awareness Month - Santa Maria Library - Santa Paula Library

Adult Literacy Awareness Month
September Spotlight
on SCLLN Literacy Programs

Santa Maria Library

With illiteracy being such an important issue in today's society, we find it our calling to help those who are lacking or failing in their English skills. It not only profits the person we teach, but it helps to enrich our society and bring us all to the realization that being literate and capable are extremely important.

Volunteer tutors benefit as well because the experience of giving of your precious time to those in need is a rewarding one. Referring to his work as a volunteer tutor, a retired Apollo Engineer stated once: "Helping to put a man on the moon was the greatest thrill of my life...until I taught someone how to read."

Blanchard/Santa Paula Public Library

F.L.A.I.R.
"FREE" SERVICE ADULT READING PROGRAM

Improve your reading and writing skills. Prepare for a better job. Learn and study with your own one-on-one tutor. Take charge of your future and enroll now. This is a FREE program!

Student Homework Center Homework

assistance Monday-Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the school year. Receive help with school assignments, including reading aloud for 20 minutes. Do your homework at the library. The library has four computers for student (K-8) use. Each has filtered Internet access, word processing, and educational games and references on CD.

Santa Paula Blanchard Library - International Literacy Day September 8

International Literacy Day September 8
Santa Paula News: 9.5.07

If you can read this, CELEBRATE International Literacy Day, September 8, 2007.

Since 1985, Santa Paula’s Blanchard Library FLAIR literacy program has been providing one-to-one volunteer tutors to help adults with reading, writing and math. Hundreds of adults have achieved success in reaching their literacy goals, ranging from being able to read a children’s book to earning a college degree. Meet a few of them:

“Before I came to FLAIR I couldn’t understand English. Now I speak, read and write it.” – Maria

“I was nervous at first but I took the ESL classes and then got a tutor. I’m learning grammar and cursive penmanship. I’m learning more and more.” – Francisco

“I read to my daughter.” – Luis

“FLAIR has been one of the most important things that has come into our lives. My husband and I have experienced good job opportunities… my daughter and older son have now graduated college.” – Martha

“I appreciate my tutor. She helps me. I want to work in a hospital convalescent home. It’s a good program. I love my library.” – Rosa

“I want a better life for my kids.” – Victor

To help celebrate these (and many other) goals and accomplishments, you can:

• Publicize our literacy program with posters and flyers

• Become a volunteer tutor

• Make a donation, which will receive a match from the California State Library - $6 will bring us $2, $9 will bring us $3, $12 will bring us $4, etc.

Call FLAIR at 525-2384. Happy reading!

Santa Paula Blanchard Library - Church donates its offerings to library's literacy program

Church donates its offerings to library's literacy program
Ventura County Star: August 23, 2004 by K Hibdon

Passing the plate at one Santa Paula church is helping to ensure the success of the Blanchard Library's Family Literacy: Aid In Reading program.

As part of its ongoing community outreach, the Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula recently donated more than $600 to the F.L.A.I.R. program, library officials said.

In order to be a more vital participant in the local community, the church last year began designating funds collected from the "Sunday plate" on the first Sunday of each month as community service funds.

The money is donated to a different local organization each calendar quarter.

The F.L.A.I.R. and Families for Literacy programs are free and serve the entire family, said Kathryn Bornhauser, Literacy Services coordinator for the Blanchard Library.

"We teach English reading, writing, math and job market skills by providing one-to-one volunteer tutoring for adults who need instruction in all academic areas.

"We also offer computer instruction in reading, written language and math skills," Bornhauser said.

The family literacy component involves parents with children 2 to 5 and focuses on making reading a family fun activity while stressing the importance of parents as early teachers.

The library is also in partnership with the Santa Paula School District to train and provide in-school volunteer tutors for children at risk.

In addition, the library offers an English as a second language program, using small classes, tutors, and English-language tapes and computer programs.

The goal of the programs is to provide opportunities for participants to develop basic education, job-market and parenting skills that will increase their value in the work force and enhance the probability that their children will stay in school, Bornhauser added.

"It is through grants and donations such as this one just received from Universalist Unitarian Church that these programs can continue to operate," she said.

Santa Paula Blanchard Library - Great dreams require sacrifice

Great dreams require sacrifice
Ventura County Star: March 10, 1999 by Sandra Nieto

I remember the day when my husband and I chose to start a new life in the U.S. I was pregnant and we were full of hope to find an opportunity of a better kind of life for my baby. I think it is the principal reason of our people. That's why we leave our countries parents family and friends.

We sacrifice to live away from the things we loved to follow the American Dream our dream.

Nothing is really easy either here in the land of opportunities. You have to learn the language to work and raise your kids. Sometimes life's duties make you feel overwhelmed and we're needing our families close to us but they're so far. It makes us to know the loneliness.

But we confront all for only one motive the biggest one -- our own family our sons and daughters looking for a brilliant future in this wonderful country. Someones reach it someones not.

It is the sad thing. I saw how some parents works the whole day under the sun in the fields to bring some food to their homes and to keep the dream alive. The kids not always respond in the way we wanted. They enroll in gangs instead of school they carry guns instead of books and the worst thing is they feel it is right. It's cool!

This way goes to two final destinies: jail or death.

This is not our longing dream. I really feel so sorry for those parents who can't see realized their hopes for whom the insane desire for the drugs and the bad companies broke the illusion.

We have to check our family daily and ask them always if they're doing their part to realize our dream.

Never is it too late to recognize and restart the way to be -- the winners who our parents a long time ago dreamed of.

-- Sandra Nieto of Santa Paula was tutored for two years at Blanchard Community Library's literacy program with her husband Augustine. She is now taking English classes at Ventura College and has a 3-year-old son Fabean and 10-year-old daughter Stephanie.

Notes: (Sandra Nieto wrote this essay as one of her assignments for the Family Literacy: Aid In Reading-Families For Literacy program at Santa Paula's Blanchard Community Library. She is still learning English so we have reprinted her essay as it was written.