Literacy Tribune - November 2008

The Literacy Tribune has information for readers on topics such as health, finance, education and technology. It also has stories and poems by adult learners.
It is published by United Literacy, as a resource and support for adult learners.

Highlights from the November 2008 issue:

Getting to the Heart of It

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. each year . . . . .

A Learner's Poem: A Star Came DownBy Rodolfo Diaz, Adult Learner

A star came down from the sky bringing with it . . . . .

Technology Watch: Updating Windows XP with Service Pack 3

We have talked about the importance of anti-virus software to protect your computer. But, that is not the only way to keep your computer and your personal information safe . . . . .

A History Lesson: James Madison

James Madison was the fourth president of the United States. Born in Port Conway, Virginia on March 16, 1751, he is one of 7 presidents from Virginia . . . 

Call for Writers !

Are you an adult learner ?
Do you want to write ?
Do you want to publish your writing ?

The Literacy Tribune is looking for adult learner writers.

You can write about:

Literacy resources you liked
Your literacy organization
Your road to literacy
You can write book reviews, poetry, short stories

You can write articles about health, finance, or technology

You can write just about anything

Ventura Co Library - Harvest Ride 2008

Ventura County Library System and Harvest Ride

2008
Ventura County Star: Nov 7, 2008 by M Murphy

This months activity began with the annual fundraising event, Harvest Ride for Literacy, Saturday, October 4th, 2008. Details of the event included some wonderful charity bike rides (a 100 mile, 66 mile, 55 mile and 30 mile) and a family ride of 8.5 miles. This years event raised over seven thousand dollars and that is enough to support one reading support center for a year!

The Harvest Ride event is typical of the deep devotion the Ventura Community feels toward the improvement of adult literacy in the Ventura county area. There are innumerable success stories emanating from this organization. At the end of the month, the Ventura County Library Reading Instruction for Adults (RIFA) graduated the October 2008 class of twenty adult literacy tutors.

This story is not unique to Ventura County. Over 140,000 high school graduates that are able to speak English lack basic reading skills because of severe learning disabilities that make it difficult to learn in a normal classroom environment. This is about one out of every four adults in California. Tragically, even if they are able to gain employment, they may be unable to read even the most basic childrens book to their families and the childrens academic progress can suffer also.

For more information about becoming an adult literacy volunteer please go to vencolibrary.org READ MORE

Commerce Library - Local Hero of the Year Beatriz Sarmiento

Local Hero of the Year

Beatriz Sarmiento, Literacy Manager at the Commerce Public Library has been honored by being named a Local Hero by KCET public television.

KCET presents the 11th consecutive Hispanic Heritage Month "Local Hero of the Year" awards at beautiful gala event at KCET's Hollywood studios. The event celebrates one honoree in each of five categories: arts, business, community activism, education and social services. [Photo courtesy Susana Rosales]

Infopeople Workshop - Service to Homeschooling Families

Infopeople Workshop

Service to Homeschooling Families
Instructor: Adrienne Furness
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were well over one million children being homeschooled in the United States in 2003, a number that has continued to rise. Studies show that a majority of homeschoolers use libraries as their primary source of learning materials, and homeschoolers are among libraries' heaviest borrowers. Still, few libraries offer specialized services to this high-need population; many libraries don't know where to start.

Statistics, Philosophies & Trends, Laws & Organizations in California

Creating Programs - Removing barriers - Creating a Collection and Evaluating Resources

2008

Dec 4: San Francisco Public Library

2009

Jan 12: Solano County Library, Fairfield
Jan 14: Buena Park Library District
Jan 15: San Diego County Library Headquarters
Mar 9: Los Angeles Public Library
Mar 11: Santa Maria Public Library
Apr 6: San Jose, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
Apr 8: Fresno Woodward Park Library

For information about training, or using materials found on the Infopeople website, please contact the Infopeople Project Assistant by email or at 650-578-9685.

All Infopeople workshops are open to all members of the California library community. This includes those who are working in any California library (academic, public, school, or special), in any California cooperative library system, or in any California library organization. It also includes California library school students, trustees, and volunteers, as well as library consultants, self-employed or unemployed librarians, and information professionals working in California.

In Memoriam :: Steve Armstrong

Corona library employee, literacy booster dies
Press-Enterprise: 10.23.08 by Alicia Robinson

Corona lost a library worker, community volunteer and literacy booster Saturday when Steve Armstrong died of kidney cancer.

Mr. Armstrong, the library's support services division manager, was 50.

Originally from Pomona, Mr. Armstrong worked in Los Angeles County and Glendora libraries before moving to Corona in 2002.

He oversaw literacy and circulation services, worked to raise funds for the library foundation, and volunteered for the Relay for Life, library Director Julie Fredericksen said.

"He was just one of those people that everyone loved talking to," Fredericksen said. "He had a real curiosity about people."

Literacy as a tool: Library director finds niche in helping folks
Press Enterprise: July 1, 2005 by Jerry Soifer

Steve Armstrong, a former businessman-turned-librarian, knows about transformations. Armstrong has been a record-store assistant manager, a paint company accountant and a hospital accountant.

Then Armstrong took an interest in literacy, earning a bachelor's degree from the University of La Verne in 1990 and a master's degree two years later. Now, at 47, he's the director of special services for Corona Public Library. He oversees the literacy program, community liaison, outreach office, the heritage room and the library foundation.

He lives in Rancho Cucamonga with his two golden retrievers. "He's really found his niche," said John Zickefoose, Corona's community liaison at the library. "People think of libraries as books. We're far more than that. We're taking care of people. He's really good at that."

SCLLN Tutor Workshops: November 2008

SCLLN Tutor Workshops: November 2008

Southern California Library Literacy Network

Tutor Workshops & Events: October 2008

- visit SCLLN for more events -

Nov 1 – 10 am
ESL Training
San Diego County Library
Ray & Joan Kroc Salvation Army
Community Center
6605 University

Nov 2 – 11 am
Celebrating Literacy & Multicultural Event
Santa Maria City Library
421 S. McClelland Street

Nov 6 – 5 pm
Trivia Bee
Pomona Public Library Literacy
Hinds Pavilion Pomona Fairplex
White Ave (Gate 12)

Nov 6 – 6 pm
Tutor TrainingBurbank Public Library
Library Auditorium
110 N Glenoaks

Nov 8 – 10 am
Tutor Training
Beverly Hills Public Library
Library Meeting Room - 2nd Floor
444 N Rexford

Nov 8 –10 am
Tutor Training
Los Angeles Public Library
Junipero Serra Branch
4607 S. Main St.

Nov 8 – 10 am
Tutor Workshop
Palmdale City Library
Larry Chimbole Cultural Center
38350 Sierra Hwy

Nov 15 – 10 am
Tutor Training
San Diego County Library
Vista Branch

Nov 15 – 12 Noon
Writer To Writer Awards Ceremony
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San Jose State University

Nov 18 – 9 am
Tutor Training
Newport Beach Public Library
1000 Avacado

Upcoming November Events

Local Conferences and Events

Bakersfield Festival of Books
Nov 1, 2008

San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival
Nov 7, 2008, 7pm
San Luis Obispo CA

CATESOL Regional - Los Angeles
Nov 8, 2008
Biola University

L A Storytelling Festival
Nov 15, 2008, 8:30am
Expo Center - Exposition Park

Tellabration 2008
Nov 22, 2008

Santa Maria Library - Central Coast Literacy Council celebrating 25 years of dedication

Central Coast Literacy Council celebrating 25 years of dedication
Santa Maria Times: 10.19.08 by Shirley Contreras

The history of the Central Coast Literacy Council goes back to the late 1960s, when Dr. Frank C. Laubach, founder of Laubach Literacy, spoke at Santa Maria's First Methodist Church.

Some time later, after a tutor training course was taught in the area, a group of tutors was organized at St. Andrew Methodist Church, with Polly Bendle serving as leader. The students were Vietnamese families who had come as refugees and had sponsors in the local area. After Ms. Bendle passed away in 1979, the organized group was disbanded.


Enthusiastically gathering up her tutoring materials, Dona Marie began telephoning offices of California Literacy Inc., which at that time was located in Alhambra. The San Luis Obispo Literacy Council was also generous with information and material.

The local literacy program began in November 1982, when Dona Marie, with helpers Doris Pine, Irene Schmitt, Ione Gustafson and Claire Magee began tutoring in the Community Service Center in Guadalupe

In January 2007, the Santa Maria City Library and the Central Coast Literacy Council joined in partnership. Such an agreement permits the council to offer its services in the library itself. The council now has an office and at least two study rooms for tutoring in the new library building.

I first became involved with the Literacy Council when I began teaching a class at the Community Center in Guadalupe on behalf of the Altrusa Club. Although I only taught for a few years, I can still recognize the need for such classes.

I'll never forget the testimony of one man who told about being afraid to order breakfast in a restaurant, because he could not read the menu. When he'd see the waitresses bringing scrumptious looking meals to other patrons, since he couldn't read English, he could only look with longing. However, he knew “ham and eggs” and that was his standing order. This went on for many years, until he finally enrolled in the literacy program. When he received his first certificate, the audience roared with appreciation when he told of the liberation he felt when he was finally able to read and write English, “if only to be able to finally order something other than ham and eggs!”

The Central Coast Literacy Council will celebrate its 25th anniversary Oct. 25 in Santa Maria with a “mystery dinner” held at the Shepard Room in the new and beautiful Santa Maria Library.

For information regarding the Literary Council, call Isa Ponce-Jimenez, PH D., executive director, at 925-0951, Ext. 836. READ MORE