BlogAThon - READ/San Diego

San Diego Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program Receives National Award from American Library Association.

has been chosen by the American Library Association to receive the prestigious Advancement of Literacy Award. READ/San Diego is a free adult and family literacy for adults 18 years of age and older.

“I am extremely pleased that the American Library Association has recognized READ/San Diego for its accomplishments in improving literacy,” said City Library Director Anna Tatár. “Library staff and volunteers have helped make this program a national model.”

Established in 1984, the Advancement of Literacy Award honors a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation or similar group that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of adult literacy.

A plaque was awarded at the American Library Association’s 2006 conference, held in New Orleans. The awards event is sponsored by The Library Journal.

Recent past recipients of the Advancement of Literacy Award include Verizon Foundation (2005); Elizabeth Fischer, Subrata De and Tom Brokaw of “Dateline NBC,” NBC News (2004); Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (2003); Center for Literacy, Philadelphia (2002); The Providence Journal (2001); Starbucks Foundation (2000); Lila Wallace, Reader’s Digest Fund and Mount Clemens Rotary Club (co-winners) (1999).

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Children

California Reading List (CRL)

Is based on a child's score on the California English-Language Arts Standards Test, a specific list has been designated as appropriate for him or her in terms of reading difficulty and interest level.

There are 13 different lists titles: starting with 01 to 13+.

Each list is made up of a collection of titles that are slightly more difficult to read than the titles on the list before it. List #01 has the most easy-to-read titles, while List #13+ is made up of the most difficult or sophisticated titles.

The list numbers DO NOT correspond to grade levels.

Might also want to look at Lexile

It has a Database of thousands of titles with Lexile measures: 200L for beginning-reader material to above 1700L for advanced text.
You can search by Lexile measure and it has a Lexile Analyzer –free but limited use- to calculate reading ability or text difficulty.
Also has a ‘Lexile BookBag’ for parents.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Links

A new(ish) literacy website:

The National Commission on Adult Literacy is an independent panel of leaders from labor, business, government, education, literacy, and philanthropy. Its aim, to focus attention on the great cause and need for adult education and literacy services in America.

Site includes:

Publications, Inspirational Essays and Links to literacy reports & organizations.

~ Dare to Dream: A Collection of Papers. . .
~ Mounting Pressures Facing the U.S. Workforce . . .

~ Adult Literacy & the American Dream by Forrest P. Chisman

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Health

People over 65 who can’t read or understand basic health info –prescription bottles, appointment slips, or even their doctors, etc.- are more likely to die sooner than more literate seniors. "Inadequate health literacy is associated with less knowledge of chronic disease and worse self-management skills for patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma and heart failure," according to a study at Northwestern University.

From Scientific American: July 23, 2007

Confused older patients die sooner: study
By Ishani Ganguli

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Understanding doctors' orders can be a matter of life or death for senior citizens: those who had trouble comprehending their physicians died sooner than their more savvy peers, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Medicare clients who were confused by pill bottles or appointment slips were 52 percent more likely to die over the six years of the study, especially from heart disease.

"Patients with inadequate literacy know less about their diseases ... They are much more likely to be hospitalized," said Dr. David Baker of Northwestern University, who led the research.

"It's not just higher hospital rates. It's significantly higher mortality."

Baker and colleagues followed 3,260 Medicare patients 65 and older in four U.S. cities. To test the volunteers' so-called health literacy, which drops with age, they quizzed them on how well they understood prescription bottles, appointment slips and insurance forms. MORE

@ Your Local Library: CalCat - WorldCat

Sixty Things to do When You Turn Sixty: 60 experts on the subject of turning 60, edited by Ronnie Sellers Publisher Ronnie Sellers Productions, c2006.

~ first essay: Be a grouch / Garrison Keillor

The 100-year Lifestyle by Eric Plasker

Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, c2007.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Learners

Literacy Card Aims to Prevent Awkward Moment -July 19, 2007

An initiative to help save embarrassment if people have difficulty reading or writing was announced this week, the Southland Times reported.


Businessman Stephen Winteringham has come up with a literacy card – which people who have difficulty reading or writing can use to explain their situation when in a bank or a shop or other situations where they may need more time to fill in forms or deal with information.


What a good idea ! Or Not ?

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Video

Reading Inspires Children

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Video

A Terrific Literacy Video !