Colton Library - Colton Sends Out Layoff Notices; Libraries To Close

Colton Sends Out Layoff Notices; Libraries To Close
SB Sun: November 12, 2009 by Melissa Pinion-Whitt

Nearly 60 Colton city employees have been given layoff notices and the city's three libraries will be closed as a result of Colton's $5 million budget shortfall, Interim City Manager Bob Miller announced today.

Thirty full time and nearly 30 part-time employees have been given notices.

Miller said the cuts will save the city $4 million. He urged labor group representatives to determine whether they can offer the city some salary or benefit savings.

"Perhaps we can all work together to head-off additional layoffs, or even reverse some of this action and return some fine people to their jobs," Miller said in a prepared statement.

Miller said the situation may grow worse if voters don't support the extension of the city's utility user tax, which is set to expire in 2011. The tax provides about $5 million to the city's general fund.

Hemet Library - Couple Marks Long Union

Couple Marks Long Union
Press Enterprise: November 4, 2009 by Diane A. Rhodes

Sixty years ago today, when Rose Mary and William "Al" Konersman said "I do" in Florissant, Mo., they probably did not envision themselves celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary at Soboba Casino.

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The Hemet couple met at McDonnell Aircraft Co. while Al was attending college to earn an engineering degree and Rose Mary was a secretary. "That was back in the days when we wore those high heels with the pointed toes," said Rose Mary, 85.

After Al started his full-time career as an aeronautical engineer, Rose Mary settled into homemaking and mothering. The couple has two daughters and a son. They lived in seven states before retiring to the Valle Vista area of Hemet about 12 years ago. The couple wasted no time in giving back to the community they chose as home.

"Volunteering has always been a big part of Al's life," said Rose Mary. But she joins her 83-year-old husband at the Adult Literacy Center, where they both tutor twice a week."If you ever get a chance to do this -- try it -- it is so rewarding," she said. They have just started their third year of tutoring. Information, 951-765-3856. READ MORE !

Literacy Program Caters to Basic Human Right

Literacy Program Caters to Basic Human Right Cape Breton Post: November 5, 2009 by Doreen Lynk Letters To The Editor

Did you know that basic education was recognized as a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 ?

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Adult literacy is more than reading, writing and mathematics. Literacy helps people participate in society. Literacy deserves serious attention. Right now there are people like me who cannot improve their education.

Nov. 2 to 6 is Literacy Action Week. The theme is Literacy and Empowerment. I, and people like me, want to benefit from our basic human right and improve our education and skills.

Please show that you value adult literacy by supporting programs and government policies that help adult learners play an active and productive role in our communities. READ MORE !

Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948

Article 26.

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Literacy Tribune: November 2009

Literacy Tribune: November 2009

United Literacy, a non-profit organization, provides resources and support to adult literacy learners in the United States. Its aim is to make literacy education accessible and worthwhile for adult learners.

Main Story: Road Safety
~ In 2006, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of death among people between the ages of 3-34.

Member Spotlight: Henry Barnes III
~ 10 months ago, Henry Barnes III walked into the Second Start Adult Literacy Program at the Oakland Library in California and asked for help. He wanted to learn to read better.

A Learner's Poem
~ Good Feeling by Rodolfo Diaz

Organization Spotlight: Start Adult Literacy Program
~ The Second Start Adult Literacy Program has been teaching adult learners in Oakland, California to read for 25 years.

A History Lesson: William McKinley
~ the 25th president of the United States, was born in Niles, Ohio on January 29, 1843.

Technology Watch: Picasa
~ Digital cameras make taking photos easy. But keeping all those photos organized on your computer and editing them can be daunting.

The Literacy Tribune is looking for adult learner writers.
Are you an adult learner ?
Do you want to write ?
Do you want to publish your writing ?

You can write about:
Your road to literacy
Your literacy organization
Literacy resources you like
You can write book reviews, poetry, short stories
You can write articles about health, finance, or technology
You can write just about anything !

CA & National Literacy Calendar: November 2009

California Literacy Calendar: November 2009

SCLLN Literacy & Library Events & Conferences
-local, California and National Conferences-
visit

Southern California Library Literacy Network
for more information

Tutor Training Workshops scrolling in left frame

Local & California

Nov 7: CATESOL Regional - Northern California - Concord CA
Nov 9: What is Dyslexia? WEBinar
Nov 12-15: Getting In Touch With Literacy Conference Costa Mesa Hilton
Nov 16-18: Ready To Learn - EduAlliance Network Hollywood
Nov 19-22: California School Library Association Conference Ontario CA
Nov 20-22: ACTFL Annual Convention San Diego CA
Nov 21: CATESOL Regional - Southern California - Los Angeles CSULA
Nov 21: Tellabration
Nov 21: 9am Susan Barton Presentation - Dyslexia Garden Grove CA
Nov 30: Remediation For Dyslexia WEBinar

National

Nov 3-6: AAACE Annual Conference Cleveland OH
Nov 11-14: International Dyslexia Association Conference Walt Disney World FL
Nov 18-20: CAEL International Conference Westin Hotel
Nov 19-21: LERN Conference Savannah GA
Nov 19-22: National Council of Teachers of English Philadelphia, PA
Nov 19-20: World Congress on Disabilities Jacksonville FL

Writer To Writer 2009

2009 Writer-to-Writer Awards- at CLA Conference – Literacy Interest Group –

October 31 @ Bar Celona Restaurant

This year 188 adult learners entered the Challenge from 43 library literacy programs all over California. Their letters, based on their writing skill levels, were divided into four categories: Emerging, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. [see earlier Post for more information !]

The letters of the winners will appear as a Four-part Series by the Literacy Interest Group E-newsletter.

Winner: Advanced Writer
Sima T - Berkeley Public Library

Dear Paulo Coelho,

I am honored by "my good fortune of the world," as you would say to be able to read your novel The Alchemist in two different languages, Farsi and English. I read the Farsi version of The Alchemist almost one decade ago when I had started to work as an architect and instructor. I read the English version of your novel when my English tutor, Judy bought it for me one very pleasant morning this June in Berkeley. Maybe one day I will have a chance to read it in your language which I am sure will be the best to understand fully all of the magic of the book.  READ MORE !

2009 Writer to Writer Challenge Winners & Runners Up

Emerging Level Winner:
Anonymous, Alhambra Civic Center Library
wrote to Anne Frank - Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

Runners Up:
Nick F, Downey City Library wrote to Gary Paulson - Hatchet.
Esbeida C, Altadena Library District wrote to Fernando Javier Galan - A Long Road.

Beginning Level Winner:
Evonne M, Hemet Public Library
wrote to Dave Pelzer - A Child Called It.

Runners Up:
Ramon G, Carlsbad City Library wrote to Clement Clark Moore - The Night Before Christmas.
Camila R, Carlsbad City Library wrote to Cheri Huber - Be the Person You Want to Find.

Intermediate Level Winner:
Larry E, Palmdale City Library
wrote to Sidney Poitier - The Measure of a Man.

Runners Up:
Blanca M, Riverside County Library wrote to Dr. Jorge Erdely - Pastors Who Abuse.
Laurie H Hemet Public Library wrote to Judy Blume - Deenie.

Advanced Level Winner:
Sima T, Berkeley Public Library
wrote to Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist.

Runners Up:
Juan S, San Diego Public Library wrote to Lance Wubbels - If Only I Knew.
Sharon Z, Contra Costa County Library wrote to Alan Brennert - Moloka’i.

The letters of the 2008 winners and finalists @

Join 1,000,000 for Literacy

. . . forwarded from Margaret Doughty
@ Literacy Powerline

Literacy Advocates can create a larger voice to let the President know that literacy must be a priority - Plan to meet with the President in Summer 2010.

Join 1,000,000 for Literacy Facebook group.
Connect with other literacy advocates.
Forward to all your friends - not just your literacy colleagues !

1 Join Facebook
2 CLICK on "Invite People to Join"
3 SELECT all of the friends that you want to join
4 CLICK on "Send invitation"

Shatter the Silence Video