Sunday, July 29, 2007

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