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