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from Escondido . . .
We began our Youth Academic Mentoring Program on October 6, 2008, and every day we get a new influx of students. The Mentor Center, housed over at the East Valley Community Complex, provides a learning environment where 1st – 8th graders can come in and work with one of fourteen CSU San Marcos interns.

Besides tutoring services, the interns act as mentors to our young learners, providing them with companionship, conversation and guidance in career exploration.

from Palmdale . . .
Learning about Wine by Ben Novelli
The Palmdale Literacy Program gave me the tools I needed to read and write. That has allowed me to do research so I am able to write an article on wine. Thank you Palmdale for having a Literacy Program.

I love wine, and I try to learn as much as I can about the stuff. There have been a lot of changes in the wine world. For instance, French wines were the wines to drink for years, but in 1976 California came onto the scene.

from San Diego County . . .
“Read for the Record” was an exciting event that took place on October 2nd at two library branches: El Cajon and Encinitas.

It was a wonderful way for L.E.A.R.N. to help Jumpstart, a national nonprofit organization, promote early childhood literacy. Jumpstart’s campaign has spread the importance of reading and family literacy across the country since 1993! This year they projected that 400,000 children would participate in helping to break the record of reading the same book, Don Freeman’s “Corduroy,” on the same day.

Orange Co Library - Orange residents named literacy tutors

Orange residents named literacy tutors
OC Register: Nov 13, 2008 by Bob West

Two Orange residents, Melvina Westfall and Carolyn Aguilar, were certified Saturday, Nov. 8 as volunteer literacy tutors for READ/Orange County after completing the required 23-hour training course.

This training has prepared them to teach reading and writing to the one out of four adults that have low or no literacy skills. They join a dedicated corps of volunteer tutors who change the lives of adults through literacy.

Westfall will tutor in the Core program component teaching reading and writing to eager adults.

Aguilar will tutor in the EL Civics program to help provide opportunities for adult non-native speakers to become better parents, workers, and community members by gaining language and literacy skills.

Marcia Tungate, READ/OC Literacy Programs administrator, said, "It is the commitment of our wonderful tutors that makes our literacy program great. When we teach someone to read, we start a ripple that affects the lives of the individual, the family, and the community. Everything we do is impacted by the ability to read."

READ/Orange County offers a comprehensive training program for adults who want to become a tutor. No prior teaching experience is necessary.

Information: READ/Orange County or 714-566-3070.

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."