News for You - Online

News for You - Online

News for You provides adult ESL students and struggling readers with news that is easy to read and understand. These engaging, timely stories will help students build language, reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, listening, and speaking skills, and more !

With the online version, students can:
~ Read and listen to the front -page stories
~ Listen sentence-by-sentence or listen to the full story
~ Listen sentence-by-sentence as many times as they need
~ Go back to a story archive for review and more practice
~ Archive begins: June 2008

Published by New Readers Press, a publishing division of ProLiteracy

Imperial County Library - Libraries Empower All to Read Now! Welcome to our wiki !

Libraries Empower All to Read Now!
Welcome to our wiki !

Welcome and thank you for visiting our wiki! This wiki is open to learners, tutors, and anyone interested in adult literacy. We hope this wiki will allow people to openly communicate with others and also provide resources for learners and tutors.

Visit LEARN Imperial Valley. Check out their new wiki. It includes: a Video, News, Partners, Photos, Resources and more.

Literacy In Libraries Around California + Nevada Co

Improving life skills through literacyUnion of Grass Valley: 8.04.08 By Pat Butler

They’re changing lives in cramped offices and at close quarters in public libraries on a mere $75,000 a year.

And it’s not just the students who benefit.

“Working with her is turning me on. It makes me feel good because I can help her achieve more of her potential, and she has great potential,” Ginny Ebey, a tutor for the adult Literacy Center, said of 21-year-old Mary Ann Brown.

Ebey is one of 75 volunteers who have been matched with an adult who wants one-on-one tutoring to help with their reading and writing as the Literacy Center celebrates its 10th year.

Their investment of two to three hours a week is literally changing lives, according to Alan Archer, the program coordinator.

“This is real life stuff,” Archer said from his small office in the Madelyn Helling Library which doubles as a classroom. “The more literate they become, the better jobs they get and they become literacy leaders in their families. That’s the only way to break the cycle.”

Archer estimates the Literacy Center has worked with 250 adults since he became the part-time coordinator three years ago. His staff, which consists of a part-timer at the library and another in Truckee, is working with 75 students on an annual budget of $75,000. The money comes from the state, the non-profit Friends of the Library and county government, which makes the largest contribution.

The students range in age from 19 to 77. About two-thirds are natives, while the rest are learning English as a second language, said Archer, adding that Department of Education studies have shown around 90 million Americans read at a grade school level or lower. READ MORE

Santa Maria Library - AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER !

AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER !

Santa Maria will celebrate the opening of its new Main Public Library on Saturday, August 23, 2008! The Grand Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. and the library is scheduled to open its doors to the public at 11 a.m.

This beautiful two-story building is the largest civic project in the City's history, and will be twice the size of the old (current) building last expanded in 1970. Expanded book collections, 77 public computers, a children's theater, a café, community meeting room and a new literacy center are among the many features. Click on the graphics below to learn about your new library!

The Central Coast Literacy Council’s office is moving to the new library in Santa Maria this year, and the organization’s 16th Annual Adult Spelling Bee Saturday, Sept. 6, will help raise funds for the transition.

Simple English Wikipedia

Simple English Wikipedia

Just about everyone has heard about Wikipedia.
Did you know there is a ' Simple English Wikipedia ? '
It has over 34,000 articles written in plain, basic English.

Here is a sample from the article on the violin:

The violin is a string instrument that is played with a bow. The violin has four strings which are tuned to the notes G, D, A, and E. The violin is held between the left collar bone (near the shoulder) and the chin. Different notes are made by fingering with the left hand while bowing with the right. It has no frets or other markers, so players have to learn the exact place to put the fingers of the left hand by memory alone.

The violin is the smallest and highest pitched instrument in the string family. The other instruments in the family are: viola, cello and double bass. A person who plays the violin is called a violinist. A person who makes or repairs a violin is called a luthier.

Library volunteer shares love of books with adult literacy program

Library volunteer shares love of books with adult literacy program
Lodi News-Sentinel: July 24, 2008 by Pam Bauserman

After Bev Cornelius retired from teaching 13 years ago, she began looking for something to keep herself occupied. A fan of books, the 78-year-old felt the library was the place for her to be. Four to five times a month Cornelius volunteers her time selling books for the Friends of the Lodi Public Library and for two to three days a week, she helps out with the adult literacy program.

Q: What do you enjoy about it?
A: Just to see people come and buy books so I know they're reading and to help adults with their reading.

Q: What has been the most memorable moment for you?
A: With the tutoring, my last student was an Indian woman. It was fun to be introduced to a new food and learn something about the culture in India. I also jjust started tutoring a Hispanic girl, Alicia. She is doing so well. She is so motiviated.

Q: What do you never tire of?
A: Probably reading.

Q: What goals do you hope to accomplish for the library?
A: In my tutoring program, I help those people become better readers and have a better connection to the English language. And, just sell books.

Q: What has been the weirdest thing that has happened since you have been volunteering here?
A: Shortly after we moved into this room, we had all the books on the shelves and overnight they all fell onto the floor. The books were too heavy for the shelves.

Q: Do you see a lot of books that you want?
A: Oh yes. Everytime I'm on duty I buy one or two books and then I get hints from people saying, "You should read that book."

Q: What is the last book you read?
A: "Three Cups of Tea." READ MORE

Carlsbad Library - Library Learning Center OPENING CELEBRATION

Carlsbad City Library Learning Center

OPENING CELEBRATION

Carlsbad CL Newsletter: June/July 2008

Join us for the Learning Center's grand opening celebration on Saturday, August 23. The ceremony begins at 10 am, followed by the ribbon cutting, tours, children's activities including crafts and story-times, entertainment by the Mariachi Divas and refreshments until 3 pm. Admission is free @ 3368 Eureka Place.

The new Library Learning Center will provide a library collection for all ages; literacy tutoring; homework assistance and study rooms; public computer access and computer classes; bilingual (English/Spanish) services; and programs for children and families.

Can’t make the August opening? Join us for events in September to celebrate National Literacy and Hispanic Heritage Month. For more information, call: 760 . 931 . 4500