Life Long Role of Libraries: Pre K - 20 & Beyond

Life Long Role of Libraries: Pre K - 20 & Beyond
from the Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnson
May 20, 2010

The Life-Long Role of Libraries

The journey of a student from pre-kindergarten through the K-12 educational system and either into the workforce or on to a higher education institution. Along the way, school, academic, and public libraries are all available to provide services to the student and parents in support of learning and information literacy. This graphic was developed after attendance at various P-20 meetings where it seemed important to show that libraries play an important role throughout the life of students and adults. Minnesota libraries collaborate in sharing services and resources. Once in the workforce, information continues to be available through the public library for lifelong learning and recreation activities.

From 19th Annual Minitex Interlibrary Loan Conference: May 4, 2010
. . . slide 15 of Minitex Update (pdf) - Bill DeJohn, Director

Minitex is a publicly supported network of academic, public, state government, and special libraries working cooperatively to improve library service for their users in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Los Angeles Co Library - Cuts spell needed end to literacy program

Cuts spell needed end to literacy programZev Yaroslavsky – Supervisor: L A County, 3rd District
Newsletter: May 12, 2010

This is one kind of bookkeeping that the Los Angeles County Public Library does not relish.

Library executives, like their counterparts in other departments, are being called on to help the county close a $500-million budget deficit for the coming fiscal year. For the library, this means reducing hours at some branches and ending its long-running Adult Literacy Program—a move that would seem, on the surface, to run counter to a library’s calling.

In reality, however, the elimination of the literacy program was overdue, according to County Librarian Margaret Donnellan Todd.

“I’m not happy to make any cuts,” Todd said Wednesday as the Board of Supervisors began hearings on the proposed 2010-2011 budget. “But this one, I think, was best for taxpayers.”

The program, which served between 200 and 250 participants, cost the library $555,000 a year. That price was hard to justify, Todd said, because the program was based on an outdated state model from the 1980s that emphasized one-on-one tutoring and failed to incorporate advances in technology and teaching.

During the past two decades, the participants also changed dramatically, a change that Todd said was not reflected in the program’s approach. In earlier years, she said, most people seeking adult literacy services simply had not learned to read. Today, most participants want assistance in improving their skills in English as a second language. “That’s a huge change from the ‘80s,” she said.

Complicating matters, some participants also had “significant learning disabilities” and were referred to the library’s literacy program from adult schools and other outside agencies, Todd explained, adding that the library staff does not have the necessary skill set for that kind of challenge.

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For a more comprehensive look at the library’s literacy plans, as described in a letter to L.A. County CEO William T Fujioka, click here. READ MORE !

California Ranks 46th in Fourth Grade Reading Proficiency

California Ranks 46th in Fourth Grade Reading Proficiency: Roughly 3 in 4 are failing to read at grade level

Early Warning!
Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters:
A KIDS COUNT Special Report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation May 18, 2010

A new report released today highlights the need to increase the number of children reading at grade level by the end of third grade, a critical academic milestone that can predict whether or not children graduate from high school.

According to the KIDS COUNT Special Report, Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters, from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, children’s reading proficiency is central to their school success, life-long earning potential and ability to contribute to the nation’s economy and its security.

California ranks 46th in the nation in fourth grade reading proficiency, with roughly three out of four fourth-graders (76 percent) failing to read at grade level. The state’s high school dropout rate is approaching 20 percent overall, with rates ranging from eight percent for Asian students, 12 percent for white students, 24 percent for Latino students and 33 percent for African American students. In California, this translates into 98,000 students per class who fail to graduate.

With 6.3 million public K-12 students, California has the largest and most diverse student population in the nation; for example, roughly 40 percent of the state’s kindergartners are designated English learners. The state’s ability to provide every child a high-quality education has impacts for children, the state and the nation. Children’s reading proficiency is central to their school success and their earning potential. It is estimated that each high school dropout costs society $260,000 in lost earnings, taxes and productivity. Moreover, California’s economic vitality, dependent on a skilled and educated workforce, is facing a projected shortfall of one million college graduates by 2025.

Santa Maria Library - Literacy project golden for scout, council and families

Literacy project golden for scout, council and families
Santa Maria Times: May 13, 2010 by Brian Bullock

Tatianna Kufferath loves reading and working with children.

So when she had to develop a project to earn her Girl Scouts Golden Award, combining the two passions was perfect.

The result is the Santa Maria Family Literacy Program, which helps parents with limited English skills learn the language so they can better help their children with their school work.

“It’s vital for a kid’s success in education to have that parental support,” Tatianna explained, sounding a lot like a passionate elementary school teacher. “A lot of parents really, really want to help their kids, but they don’t know how. I wanted to have a project that would help with that.”

Tatianna, a junior at Righetti High School in Orcutt, joined with Isa Ponce-Jimenez, director of the Central Coast Literacy Project, to develop the program. Ponce-Jimenez had wanted to develop a similar project ever since moving into the Santa Maria Public Library. Their collaboration has been golden for both women.

Tatianna, a Girl Scout since the third grade, will receive her Golden Award tonight at the Pacific Christian Center, where she attends church, and the program has blended beautifully into the Central Coast Literacy Project.

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The program, which started last summer, has approximately 20 mentors from Righetti High, where Tatianna is a junior, Pioneer Valley High and St. Joseph High. Tatianna said she is always looking for more. READ MORE !

Easy Voter Guide: California Primary - June 8

EASY VOTER GUIDE
June 8, 2010 California Primary Election

For new readers and busy voters.
Welcome to the Easy Voter Guide Project website.
Your nonpartisan quick guide to statewide elections since 1994.

Read about the Candidates and Propositions:
Prop 13: Property Taxes & Earthquake Safety
Prop 14: Primary Elections
Prop 15: Public Funding of Campaigns
Prop 16: Local Public Electricity
Prop 17: Auto Insurance

The Easy Voter's Guide was started when a group of public library adult literacy students [ Bay Area New Readers Council ] felt that there was a lack of nonpartisan voter information accessible to adults still working on their reading skills.

Some of their innovations, job descriptions for each political office, have been adopted by the Secretary of State's official Voter Information Guide.

The nonpartisan “Easy Voter Guide” (formerly Easy Reading Voter Guide) has been published for every California statewide election since 1994.

It is a service of:
~ League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
~ California State Library
~ California Secretary of State's Office
~ The James Irvine Foundation provides additional support

Hemet Library - Stricken author who had to relearn to write to discuss book in Hemet

Stricken author who had to relearn to write to discuss book in Hemet
Press Enterprise: May 8, 2010 by Brian Rokos

Author Megan Timothy will discuss her new book and promotional journey from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on (May 13)Thursday at the Hemet Public Library, 300 E. Latham Ave., in Hemet.

Timothy, who suffered a stroke in 2003, credits the library's adult literacy program for helping her relearn to write and speak.

She rode her bicycle 12,000 miles to promote "Let Me Die Laughing! Waking from the Nightmare of a Brain Explosion."

Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Timothy will donate a percentage to the library's adult literacy services.

San Diego Public Library :: READ/San Diego - 20th Annual Tutor Conference 2010

READ/San Diego: 20th Annual Tutor Conference

June 12, 2010

Joan B Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice

University of San Diego

The READ/San Diego conference will feature an impressive lineup of presenters including the luncheon keynote speaker Maryanne Wolf, internationally known researcher and author of the critically acclaimed book, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain.

Geared to provide literacy tutors with tools and techniques they can implement immediately, the conference will feature workshops strands on learning disabilities, pronunciation, phonics, family literacy, writing, comprehension, GED preparation strategies and the latest brain-based research:

Survival Skills-Role of Executive Functions
Practical Strategies Improve Fluency
Comparative Approaches Teaching Phonics
Picture is Worth 1000 Words
Promoting Clearer Pronunciation
Helping Elementary M School Reading Writing
Teaching Grammar in Context
Teaching GED Prep
Making Most of Conversation Practice
English Lang Skills-Parents, Child Care Providers
Understanding Learning Challenges, Styles

Full Conference: $30.00
Luncheon Only: $15.00
Deadline: June 10, 2010
For additional information, please contact READ/San Diego
619 . 527 . 5475