Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy 2009 - Derek Wolfgram, Butte County

California Library Association: Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy: 2009

Derek Wolfgram was recognized as this year’s winner of the Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy.

The following comments are excerpts from his nomination:

Derek Wolfgram goes WAY above and beyond to support literacy! While not familiar with Literacy Services in the Library before becoming our Director (Butte County), he got up to speed quickly and became one of our best-ever advocates! From voting on t-shirt graphics, to starring in a zany radio spot, to respectfully presenting our Champion of Literacy award to our adult learner honoree, no doubt about it, in so many ways he was ‘there’ for us.

While always an enthusiastic spirit in support of Literacy, Derek’s support isn’t just all fun and games – rather it is also forward- thinking, inclusive and strategic. He was sure to include the Literacy Services team when doing his system needs assessment and when he instituted the Leadership Team of managers, the Literacy Specialist was solidly at the table. Extremely supportive of our efforts to secure grants, he’s proven to be a key team member, offering his valuable visionary and editing skills.

Perhaps most illustrative overall is recalling last January when Derek accompanied two adult learners and a volunteer tutor to visit one of our legislators. Derek stepped back and encouraged the focus be directed on the learners. Surely the necessary messages about concerns for the library were heard that day, but with Derek’s compassionate and elegant presence, what the legislator will remember when thinking of the Library are the voices from two adults who have so benefited from Literacy Services.

Butte County: 2006 - May 2009

Adult Learner Leadership Institute - ALLI

Adult Learner Leadership Institute

January 23, 2010 - June 2010

Application Deadline: December 17, 2009

Dear Learner:

Are you having trouble talking to the teachers at your child’s school ?
Do you want to learn how to speak out in meetings ?
Do you want to be a better advocate for yourself and others in the community ?

Then the Adult Learner Leadership Institute is for you !
You must be an Adult Learner in a Southern California Library Literacy program.

In the Adult Learner Leadership Institute you will learn how to improve your communication and leadership skills. These skills will help you in your family life, at work, and in your community. We are pleased to offer the Institute at the Carlsbad City Library Learning Center.

ALLI, formerly known as the Henry Huffman Leadership Institute is a six-month leadership development program for advanced learners. ALLI students build self-esteem while acquiring public speaking skills, research techniques, and learning styles.

The training is spread over 6 sessions, with classes meeting one Saturday a month and is led, presented and facilitated by adult learners. It is a dynamic training program designed for by adult learners to improve/build self-esteem, leadership, communication, advocacy and presentation skills through practical exercises. So please, take advantage of this great training opportunity for your adult learners !

It is FREE and will include breakfast, lunch and training materials.

Applicant letter and form are available @ the Carlsbad City Library Learning Center.
Please call: 760 . 931 . 4515
or email: Carrie Scott
Carlsbad City Library Learning Center
3368 Eureka Place – Carlsbad

2010 SCLLN Tutor Conference: Call 4 Presenters

Southern California Library Literacy Network
Annual Tutor Conference = February 27, 2010

Holiday Inn - Buena Park

Call 4 Presenters

If you would like to present a workshop, or if you know a volunteer or a community member who would make a great presenter, please contact SCLLN as soon as possible.

SCLLN has 21 slots to fill = Deadline: December 15 !
There are 3 Strands of Workshop sessions @ 75 minutes.
9:00am – 10:15am . . . 10:30am – 11:45am . . . 1:45pm – 3:00pm

And if anyone from Central or Northern California wants to join the fun, let's talk.

The conference is for tutors, learners, and literacy staff, and often times there's a mix in the workshop audience. SCLLN does have a "Learner Strand", and we love workshops that encourage participation from tutor-learner pairs, but there are also classes geared specifically to tutors.

Sorry, there's no stipend available this year, but presenters earn free admission to the conference and our undying gratitude. Yeah, it's the best we can do in a sour economy . . . .

Anyway, time's fleeting, so please contact me if you're interested.

Lookin' forward to the flood of applications in my inbox in the next few days.

Rod Williams = Literacy Coor.
Palmdale City Library
661 . 267 . 5682

. . . check out the workshops from the 2009 Conference !

Colton Library - Colton Libraries Reopen with Six-Day Schedule

Colton Libraries Reopen with Six-Day Schedule
SB Sun: December 1, 2009 by Michael J Sorba

Library service is back in Colton.

The Main Library, 656 N. Ninth St., reopened Tuesday. Starting today, it will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Service has also been restored at the Luque Branch Library, 294 E O St. It will reopen Thursday and then operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new schedules at both libraries will remain until June 30.

Pete Carrasco, chairman of the Colton Public Library Board of Trustees, said he's glad the city responded to the public's request to restore the libraries.

The libraries and homework assistance center that was housed at the Carnegie building were closed in November as cost-cutting measures to offset a projected $5 million deficit for the fiscal year.

At the ensuing City Council meeting about two-dozen people spoke against the decision and asked that some level of library service be restored.

The homework assistance center and an adult literacy program that was offered haven't been restored, but the city is working to get those programs back online, said Interim Deputy City Manager Bill Smith.

Schedules are effective immediately and will remain until June 30. READ MORE !

Palmdale Library - Writer To Writer Awards 2009

2009 Writer-to-Writer Awards

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, continuing part two with this E-newsletter with a letter from Intermediate winner Larry Evans:

Larry Evans
Palmdale City Library

Dear Mr. Poitier:

My name is Larry Evans and it was at the age of fifty-one that I learned how to read. Your book was the first book I ever read from cover to cover. Thank you for the inspiration I received from reading The Measure of a Man. My comments will start with you growing up in the Bahamas. Being blessed with weather so warm and beautiful all year round to enjoy - what a life! That lifestyle would only be a dream for me. The closest thing I had to living on an island was an old television show called Gilligan's Island.

My hometown was somewhat like yours; we also carried water to drink and had to use an outhouse. It is easy for a country boy like me to relate to your life style as a boy. As I read your book about how you faced racism at a very young age, it made me think that racism is maybe part of the reason why it took me fifty-one years to read the English Language. READ MORE !

CA & National Literacy Calendar: December 2009

California Literacy Calendar: December 2009

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

visit the Southern California Library Literacy Network
for more information

Tutor Training Workshops scrolling in left frame

Southern California

Dec 2-3: CA Secondary Literacy Summit = Costa Mesa
Dec 5: Literacy & Arts Festival = Santa Clarita Hart Park
Dec 8 7pm: Ten Tenors = San Diego Council on Literacy @ SD Civic Theater
Dec 12 10am: Learning Disabilities Adult Support Group = Providence Tarzana Medical Center
Dec 12 10am: Sensory Friendly Film – Princess & Frog @ some local AMC Theaters: Covina – Ontario – Orange – SD – Torrance – Woodland Hills

National

Dec 2-5: National Reading Conference = Albuquerque
Dec 4-6: Zero to Three Institute = Dallas

Lodi Literacy Program Coordinator Yvette Herrera Shares Learning Tips

Literacy Program Coordinator Yvette Herrera Shares Learning Tips
Lodi News: November 23, 2009 by Pam Bauserman

Blue squares line the floor in the Lodi Public Library through the children's area and to an office at the back.

Yvette Herrera calls these squares "the path to literacy."

Herrera is the literacy program coordinator at the library. She likes to see the life-changing progress people make once they enter the program.

"Those of us who can read, we don't realize what it's like not to be able to read a menu or a medicine bottle," she said.

What are some causes of adult illiteracy?

Having poor experiences in elementary or secondary schools. (There are also) people from other countries and there are some with learning disabilities.

What are some of the teaching methods used?

We use the Laubach way to reading technique. There are different levels they graduate in and go into different levels.

What has been the biggest success story?

We've had various learners progress. One who I can think of is in the process of getting her phlebotomy license. That's definite improvement.

What is the biggest problem adult illiteracy causes? READ MORE !