Newport Beach Library - Author Gina Nahai Featured at May Fundraising Luncheon

Author Gina Nahai Featured at May Fundraising Luncheon
NBPL Literally Speaking: Summer 2009

Attendees at the May 1st Literacy Fundraising Luncheon were offered a glimpse into the life of author Gina Nahai. She told of her history as well as her journey toward learning to structure the writing down of all the stories that she had swirling in her head. Ms. Nahai’s colorful family and her upbringing in Iran provide characters and settings for her writings. Her novels highlight the “slow, excruciating march toward freedom and respect” for women in Iran.

Although Ms. Nahai’s stories are deep and serious, she spoke with great warmth and humor and graciously answered questions afterwards. She spent time both before and after lunch signing books. In addition, participants had the chance to bid on silent auction items donated by many generous local merchants. There were also balloon pops and opportunity drawings with the grand prize drawing for a fantastic gift basket donated by Wine Country Gift Baskets. Kudos to the committee and volunteers organizing the event—they did a terrific job.

Riverside County Library - Adults Learn English in Free Class at Library

Adults Learn English in Free Class at Library Desert Sun: June 18, 2009 by Aldrich M Tan

For the last several months, teacher Hank Altheide of La Quinta has been working with students learning English.

Most of them are adults older than 30.

During a recent class, held at Indio Public Library, a group of 12 students clapped their hands as they sang a song to review the days of the week in a small library conference room.

“Time flies. Days go by,” the students chanted with Altheide. “Sunday. Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday.”

Altheide has been teaching the English as a Second Language, or ESL, class for at least three months through the Riverside County Library System's Adult Literacy Program and has seen his numbers of students grow as more find out about the free sessions.

The program has been around for at least 10 years, said Cindy Delanty, deputy administrator for the Riverside County Library System.

There are similar programs throughout the county, including in Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City and Coachella, Delanty said.

Altheide has been an ESL teacher for more than 10 years. By day, he operates Hank's Window Cleaning and has been self-employed in that business for 26 years. READ MORE !

Ventura Co Library - Adult Literacy Program Holds Tutor Appreciation Event

Adult Literacy Program Holds Tutor Appreciation Event
Ventura County Star: June 15, 2009 by Carol Chapman

Ventura County Library Reading Instruction for Adults (RIFA) recently honored adult literacy tutors with an ice cream social catered by Mark Schadecker of Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop in Thousand Oaks.

60 tutors attended; 5 spoke about their 17 amazing years of tutoring. Fun was had by all ! RIFA tutors teach different levels of reading and writing skills to English-speaking adults. Tutoring sites are in Ventura, Camarillo, and Simi Valley.

For more information, call: (805) 641-4484.

Literacy . . . Info . . . News . . . Questions - PPIC Skills Gap

Educating California: Choices for the Future
Public Policy Institute of California - PPIC
Hans Johnson - June 2009

The bad news is that California is facing a “skills gap” - a shortage of college graduates - that threatens its economic future. But the good news is that modest improvements in college enrollment, community college transfers, and the college completion rate, particularly in the California State University system, could help to narrow that gap substantially. These improvements will not only help California’s young adults succeed in an increasingly high-skill economy but will also benefit the state by increasing tax revenues and allowing for greater economic growth.

California’s economy is becoming increasingly dependent on highly educated workers. But unless young adults’ college-going and college graduation rates increase substantially, the supply of graduates is not likely to meet the demand. PPIC projects that by 2025, 41 % of jobs will require at least a bachelor’s degree— but only 35 percent of California adults will have college diplomas.

FULL REPORT