October is Health Literacy Month 2009

October is Health Literacy Month

Annual awareness-raising event started in 1999 by Helen Osborne along with a team of health literacy advocates.

The theme for Health Literacy Month 2009 is "Why Health Literacy Matters: Sharing Our Stories in Words, Pictures, and Sound."
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health literacy stories from Iowa Plain & Simple

Iowan says it's "Time to teach the doctors"
Iowan's rare insight improves health communication
Iowan Archie Willard shares experiences with low literacy, gives advice
Ordered not to talk, patient was unable to communicate
Unexpected outcome due to uninformed consent

SAVE THE DATE: October 19 – 20

The Boston University Medical Center will hold the Health Literacy Annual Research Conference in Washington DC @ the National Academy of Sciences Building, 2101 C Street, NW.

Roundtable on Health Literacy – Institute of Health Medicine
Building upon the 2004 report Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion, the Institute of Medicine has convened a Roundtable on Health Literacy. The Roundtable brings together leaders from academia, industry, government, foundations and associations, and representatives of patient and consumer interests who have an interest and role in improving health literacy.

. . . some health literacy sites of interest:

Health literacy articles, videos and images @ asterpix

The Health Literacy Special Collection:
Curricula - Health Info for All - Multilingual Health Info - Resources
Funding Sources - Cultural Competency - Plain Language

Health Information Literacy @ Medical Library Association

California Literacy Calendar: October 2009

California Literacy Calendar: October 2009

SCLLN Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

-local, California and National Conferences-

visit

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

Current Tutor Training Workshops scrolling in left frame

Local Events

Oct 1 – 9 am: Reading Comprehension for Adult Literacy Tutors
Cyberspace
Oct 4 – 10 am: Orange County Children's Book Festival
Orange Coast College Costa Mesa
Oct 10-12: Latino Book & Family Festival
CSULA- Greenlee Plaza
Oct 17: CATESOL San Diego Regional
Grossmont College
Oct 24-8:30am: Fall Gala
Children’s Literature Council of Southern California
Skirball Cultural Center
Oct 27: Women's Conference
Long Beach Convention Center

California Events

Oct 9: LitQuake 2009
San Francisco CA
Oct 26-28: Internet Librarian 2009
Monterey Conference Center
Oct 30-Nov 2: California Library Association - Reach Out !
Pasadena Convention Center
Oct 31: SCLLN Professional Development Day
@ CLA - Pasadena

National & International Events

Oct 2: Early Literacy Conference
Pittsburgh
Oct 2-4: National Storytelling Festival
Jonesborough TN
Oct 25-27: Conference of the Book
University of Edinburgh
Scotland
Oct 28-31: Assistive Technology Industry Assoc.
Schaumburg IL
Oct 28-30: World Congress on Learning Disabilities
Burlington MA

Adult Literacy Awareness Month - Upland Library - Ventura Co Library

Adult Literacy Awareness Month

September Spotlight

on SCLLN Literacy Programs

Upland Public Library - Adult Literacy Program

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 Reading Club

Please note the new date and time:

Second Tuesday of the month, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

September through June

Adult learners discuss books and meet other aspiring readers in their own book club, which began on October 3, 2006. 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

Ventura County Library

The Reading Instruction for Adults provides free one-to-one reading and writing tutoring by trained volunteers throughout Ventura County. The Ventura County Library has been offering this service since 1984, when it was one of the original public libraries to join the California Literacy Campaign. Our administrative costs are part of the Ventura County Library's budget. Additional funding comes from ongoing collaborative agreements with Ventura Adult School, Oxnard Adult School, various cities and the Sheriff's Department. State grants and donations from government, business, and service organizations enable us to help about 500 individuals each year.

Tutoring takes place in libraries, school, community, and jail facilities throughout Ventura County. These sites are managed by part-time professional educators, referred to as site managers. They are available during specified times to assess learners reading levels, interview tutors, match students and tutors, recommend teaching materials and provide support for learning partners.

Adult Literacy Awareness Month - Santa Maria Library - Santa Paula Library

Adult Literacy Awareness Month
September Spotlight
on SCLLN Literacy Programs

Santa Maria Library

With illiteracy being such an important issue in today's society, we find it our calling to help those who are lacking or failing in their English skills. It not only profits the person we teach, but it helps to enrich our society and bring us all to the realization that being literate and capable are extremely important.

Volunteer tutors benefit as well because the experience of giving of your precious time to those in need is a rewarding one. Referring to his work as a volunteer tutor, a retired Apollo Engineer stated once: "Helping to put a man on the moon was the greatest thrill of my life...until I taught someone how to read."

Blanchard/Santa Paula Public Library

F.L.A.I.R.
"FREE" SERVICE ADULT READING PROGRAM

Improve your reading and writing skills. Prepare for a better job. Learn and study with your own one-on-one tutor. Take charge of your future and enroll now. This is a FREE program!

Student Homework Center Homework

assistance Monday-Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the school year. Receive help with school assignments, including reading aloud for 20 minutes. Do your homework at the library. The library has four computers for student (K-8) use. Each has filtered Internet access, word processing, and educational games and references on CD.

Adult Literacy Awareness Month - Santa Barbara Library - Santa Fe Springs Library

Adult Literacy Awareness Month
September Spotlight
on SCLLN Literacy Programs

Santa Barbara Public Library

Tutoring for Adults - Become a Better Reader!

If you or someone you know would like to learn to read, write, or spell better, call the Santa Barbara Public Library Adult Literacy Program at (805) 564-5619. A trained tutor will provide confidential one-on-one tutoring in reading, writing and spelling skills.

Adults are eligible for literacy tutoring if they:
Are 16 or older;
Are able to hold a conversation, such as an intake interview, in English;
Are not enrolled in a degree program; and
Are able to work with a tutor 2 or 3 hours per week.

News!
Click here for the latest adult literacy newsletter!

Training is offered four times per year. The nine-hour workshop prepares participants to help English-speaking adults improve their reading, writing, and spelling. Once you have been matched with a learner, on-going assistance on specific teaching or learning issues is available.

Sante Fe Springs Public Library

About Literacy Services

The National Literacy Act of 1991 defines literacy as " . . .an individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals, and develop one's knowledge and potential." There are literacy programs in adult schools, churches, community centers, and businesses as well as libraries.

The Santa Fe Springs City Library has offered free literacy services to adults, children, and families since 1987.Our confidential adult literacy service is available to all English-speaking patrons of the library. Those who cannot speak and understand English are referred to local programs to learn conversation first. Then they may enroll in our literacy program.Over 40 million Americans age 16 and older have significant literacy needs.

In Los Angeles County, there are 1.8 million adults with limited reading and writing skills. Forty-three percent of first-year students in the California State University system require remedial reading instruction.Research supports a strong link between the home environment and children's acquisition of school-based literacy.Businesses that provide basic skills training experience a 19 percent greater increase in productivity than companies that did not provide such training.

Reading Club

Does your child have trouble reading? Learn more about the Library's FREE Literacy service to children ages 7 - 12.

Adult Literacy Awareness Month - READ/San Diego - San Luis Obispo Library

Adult Literacy Awareness Month

September Spotlight

on SCLLN Literacy Programs

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.

In 2006, READ/San Diego was honored with the Advancement of Literacy Award from the American Library Association. The national award honors a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation or similar group that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of adult literacy. Read the full press release (PDF:22K).

In 2004, READ/San Diego was named one of the top community partnerships in the nation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education. Read the full press release (PDF:117K).

San Luis Obispo Library

The San Luis Obispo County Literacy Council is a nonprofit organization committed to assisting adult learners and their families in the development of English language communication skills by:

Recruiting and preparing volunteers as tutors in the delivery of quality instruction using a variety of approaches. Providing individual and group instruction to learners in reading, writing, speaking and basic number skills, thereby furthering the ability of learners to function well in the community. Promoting individual awareness and involvement in the literacy process.

Adult Literacy Awareness Month - San Bernardino Public Library - San Diego Co Library

Adult Literacy Awareness Month

September Spotlight

on SCLLN Literacy Programs

San Bernardino Public Library Literacy Center

provides small group tutoring to individuals that desire to improve their basic skills. Tutoring is provided by dedicated volunteers who are trained in literacy instruction by certified trainers through Laubach Literacy.

Classes in Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), Families for Literacy (FFL), After School Homework Assistance, and Citizenship preparation are a sampling of what is offered.

Online Help for Adult Learners

One-on-one assistance with resume reviewing, test preparation for U.S. citizenship and the GED, job search assistance and various other instruction is offered. It is available through San Bernardino Public Library both in the library and remotely via the library website daily 1 p.m. - 10 p.m. for SBPL library cardholders with Internet access. It is closed on July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

LearningExpressLibrary.com

(Sample Test Questions - formerly LearnATest)

Provides sample tests with questions to help preparation for the GED, SAT, CBEST, GRE, ASVAB and various employment-related tests. This database will prompt you to set-up a user name and password. You must keep this information to log in to use the tests. This database is accessible from the library or from home for San Bernardino Public Library cardholders.

Scrabble Night Every third Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Literacy Center at Feldheym. All participants welcome! Come join the fun.

San Diego County Library

L.E.A.R.N. Mission
To help adults improve reading and writing skills to achieve their full potential as community members, family members, workers, and life-long learners;
To teach non-English speakers ESL (English as a Second Language) skills;
To tailor services to individual needs, with confidentiality;
To foster understanding and use of public libraries;
To educate communities on the importance of literacy.

Adult Literacy in San Diego County
An average 20% of adults locally struggle with reading and writing. It can be a source of embarrassment for adults, who are often unwilling to ask for help.

Many have learning disabilities;
Others received insufficient individual instruction in school or at home;
Others are immigrants seeking to learn English.
Adult Literacy Services at San Diego County Library
L.E.A.R.N. offers free, confidential adult literacy and learning services;
Services include one-on-one and small group tutoring and computer-aided instruction; Centers are in the El Cajon and Vista branch libraries;
Services are available at all San Diego County Library branches.

L.E.A.R.N. Newsletter