Public libraries must be public, not profit machines

Public libraries must be public, not profit machines
Record: July 24, 2010 by Colleen Foster

What is a public library?

One "maintained for/used by the people of a community" or an entity "capitalized in shares of stock that can be traded on the open market?" A fair question since the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors recently released a Request for Proposals from private companies to manage operations of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library.

The goal of a public library is to improve quality of life by advancing literacy and a lifelong love of learning. The goal of a private company is to create profit for its owners or shareholders. In my opinion, these goals are fundamentally incompatible.

The board appears to be searching for a way to maintain quality service in our library system while saving money in these difficult times. The premise behind library privatization seems to be that the library is so inefficient in its operations that a company with a profit motive will be able to do more with less.

As the former director of the library, I know the many cost saving measures long in place at the library: cooperative cataloging of popular material, preprocessing of such material, major discounts from book jobbers, and shared cost of delivery with a multicounty library cooperative. There is not much room for increasing library efficiency without sacrificing quality of service.

The most substantial cost associated with running our library is staff salaries and benefits. Privatization is therefore almost certain to reduce the quality and quantity of our library staff. Librarians and library staff are the key to the high quality service upon which San Joaquin County residents have come to rely.

Libraries are not profitable, and they're not supposed to be. That's why we support them with our tax dollars - to ensure that they continue to make the betterment of all their main priority. America's public libraries are a cornerstone of our democracy and play an important part in our nation's commitment to public education.

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And why should any of our public monies, let alone 8 percent of the library's budget, go to the profits of a private company with a home office in Maryland? READ MORE !

Colleen Foster was the director of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library from 1994-2000.

San Diego Co Library - Amanda Rocks !

Amanda Rocks !
Learn Alive: May-Jun 2010 by Kevin Vigil, Library Associate

When I first stepped into the El Cajon Branch Library nearly fiveyears ago, I couldn’t help but notice the sparseness of the literacy center. There were no computers on the desks, a large wall devoid of color, and only one bookshelf with a handful of materials. The literacy office was a clear reflection of the nearly empty center adjoining it, except for one computer, a few file boxes scattered on the floor, and Amanda Schukle.

Amanda was LEARN’s first literacy coordinator and the sole staff member of the month-old program. As an outreach librarian, Amanda was hand- picked to take the reins of the fledgling LEARN program, which previously had been managed by the San Diego Public Library. Although many tutor/learner pairs had participated in the SDPL-run program, only twelve tutor/learner pairs successfully transitioned to LEARN. Amanda was tasked with getting more adult learners and tutors involved while attempting to develop an effective literacy program.

Initially, she faced a number of challenges. Some of these challenges included how best to provide services throughout the San Diego County Library’s large geographic area, developing effective volunteer recruitment strategies, figuring out a comprehensive training model for tutors, and building a literacy program that was fully integrated with the library. Periodically, communicating the significance of LEARN proved to be difficult , but Amanda consistently informed people of the program’s unique value.

Along with these challenges came successes. “The first being the very existence of LEARN,” stated Amanda. “The program was and continues to be a conduit for people to create their own success.” As adult learners improved their literacy skills, they began to accomplish long established goals, such as obtaining a driver’s license, a promotion at work, or reading a story to their children. These successes reaffirmed Amanda’s belief that “literacy programs go hand-in-hand with libraries… the library is for everybody.”

LEARN had grown leaps and bounds by the time Amanda was promoted to the department of Collection Development at library headquarters. More staff members came on board, and a second literacy center was added at the Vista Branch Library. Adult literacy and ESL services expanded as the number of tutor/learner pairs steadily increased throughout the county.

Nearly five years later, LEARN continues to grow, as does Amanda. Recently, Amanda announced that she accepted a position as one of three library services managers in the San Mateo County Library system in Northern California. Although she will be taking many memories of the San Diego County Library with her, LEARN holds a special place in her heart. “I’m so proud of how far [LEARN has] come” stated Amanda. “It’s nice to see the impact the program has made on people.” With over 500 active adults taking advantage of literacy services in the San Diego County Library, it’s nice to see the impact Amanda has made on LEARN.

Congratulations and the best of luck Amanda! You will be missed!

San Bernardino Public Library - Declaration for the Right to Literacy

Declaration for the Right to Literacy

Be a part of an historical moment by signing the ‘ Right to Literacy ‘ Scroll at the San Bernardino Public Library. The Scroll will be presented to President Obama at the White House in September 2010.

July 31: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Authors in Support of Literacy
Norman F Feldman Central Library
555 W Sixth - San Bernardino
August 3
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm @ Norman F Feldman Central Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm @ Jack L Hill Literacy Open House
with Dorothy Inghram – John Weeks – Phil Yeh
555 W Sixth - San Bernardino

. . . related link of interest:

Declaration for the Right to Literacy
Literacy Powerline: June 17, 2009

Right to Literacy Convention delegates from across the country determined and voted on the first United States Declaration for the Right to Literacy. The Right to Literacy Convention was part of the National Community Literacy Conference in Buffalo, New York on June 13, 2009.

Literacy leaders, using the model of the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, convened from across the nation. The need was clear; tens of millions of adults and children do not have the skills needed to succeed in life. Literacy is the number one tool to change that plight. The right to literacy must be a national priority.

The resolutions support 5 pillars of literacy:
1. Building the Community
2. Strengthening the Family
3. Ensuring People’s Self-Determination
4. Improving the Workforce
5. Transforming the Literacy System

Click here to endorse the

DECLARATION FOR THE RIGHT TO LITERACY !

Literacy Tribune: July 2010

Literacy Tribune: July 2010
The Adult Learner Network Newsletter

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: The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
For decades, hundreds of oil wells have been drilled into the ground in the Gulf of Mexico.

Member Spotlight: Milton Whitley

In July 2007, at the age of fifty-two, Milton Whitley began working with a basic literacy tutor at the Literacy Council of Montgomery County (LCMC) in Maryland.

Organization Spotlight: Washington County SOAR
will celebrate its first anniversary this August

A History Lesson: Woodrow Wilson

Technology Watch: Apple's iPad
by Daniel Pedroza, Writer and Learner
One of the hottest pieces of technology today is Apple’s iPad

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 !

Libraries - sign of community health

Libraries - sign of community health
Siskiyou Daily News: June 29, 2010 by Dr. Judy Broeckel

Health can be viewed as occuring at multiple levels. One could be a healthy individual, part of a healthy small unit like a family, and/or part of a healthy large unit like a nation.

In looking at big units/groups of people, some patterns emerge. Very poor nations/groups have a lot of certain types of health problems like parasites and starvation, and certain types of infections are more common.

Very wealthy nations/groups have the classic diseases that go with wealth: obesity, heart disease and cancer being examples.

The health of states or nations can be measured by more than just counting the number of people with certain diagnoses. Healthy states have vibrant economies, personal liberties, and busy, productive people.

One of the benchmarks of civilization is literacy. READ MORE !

. . . in other news:

Daily Kos: Finally! Someone goes after the Big Literacy Monopoly
Like me I suspect many of you are sick of public libraries and how they are constantly trying to improve communities, quality of life and literacy.

LosingLibraries.org - The Big (Awful) Picture
an effort to map and chronicle the full range of cuts, closings, and diminished library services nationally. From Library Journal in partnership with Mandy Knapp and Laura Solomon (responsible for SaveOhioLibraries.com).

CA & National Literacy Calendar: July 2010

California Literacy Calendar: July 2010

SCLLN

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

visit

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

Updates of Tutor Training Workshops Scrolling in Left Frame

Local and California Literacy Events: July 2010

Jul 6 -7pm: Learning Disabilities Parent Support Group – Culver City
Jul 7 -7pm: Learning Disabilities Parent Support Group – Sherman Oaks
Jul 10 -10am: Learning Disabilities Adult Support Group – Tarzana
Jul 17 -10am: Sensory Friendly Film: Despicable Me – AMCs Covina - S Diego
Jul 19+ Reading Institute - US Dept of Education – Anaheim
Jul 22+ Comic-Con International – San Diego
Jul 24 10:30am: Understanding Dyslexia w/ Bud Pues = Burbank Library
Jul 28 7pm: In The Heights Fundraiser - San Diego Council on Literacy
Jul 29+ National Storytelling Conference – Woodland Hills California

California – National – International: July 2010

Jul 2 National Literacy Day
Jul 4+ Correctional Education Assn. Conference – Little Rock AR
Jul 7+ Autism Society National Conference – Dallas TX
Jul 8+ Golden Kite Awards: Retrospective – Abilene TX
Jul 12+ IRA: World Congress on Reading – Auckland, New Zealand
Jul 15+ Conference of the Americas – Miami Beach FL
Jul 19+ Pacific Northwest Children’s Book Conference – Portland OR
Jul 23+ Sierra Storytelling Festival – Nevada City CA
Jul 28 + Storytellers of Canada Conference – St. John's, Newfoundland
Jul 29+ Center for Health Literacy Conference – Alexandria VA
Jul 29+ National Storytelling Conference – Woodland Hills California

San Diego Public Library - READ San Diego - Director looks back on success of adult literacy program: 5 years at the helm of READ/San Diego

Director looks back on success of adult literacy program:
5 years at the helm of READ/San Diego
Sign On San Diego: June 26, 2010 by Katie Steiner

Valerie Hardie describes her job as part traffic controller, part ninja assassin.

As literacy program administrator of READ/San Diego, an adult literacy program, Hardie keeps busy promoting the program, writing grants and reports, running the show.

And even though it can be an exhausting job, one that requires multiple cups of coffee every day, it is a job that Hardie wouldn’t trade for anything.

In August, Hardie will celebrate her fifth year as READ/San Diego’s director, a program she’s been with since its inception 22 years ago.

“It’s been an extraordinary journey,” Hardie said. “I still continue to feel very privileged to work in San Diego at a job I believe in, that I think is relevant more so now than any time.

“I see miracles happen in the workplace.”

During those 22 years, the program has helped more than 20,000 adults learn to read and write, Hardie said. Currently, 450 to 500 adults are enrolled in the program.

Plus, the program has become known locally, statewide and nationally for its work. Jose Cruz, CEO of the San Diego Council on Literacy, said much of the program’s success can be credited to its director’s longevity.

“It’s a reflection of Val’s passion for literacy and the dedication to the kind of work she’s been doing,” Cruz said. “You can’t buy the passion and you can’t replace the continuity.”

Back in 1988, when the program was in the developing stages, Hardie was a young library assistant at the San Diego Public Library. She had also worked as a tutor in the writing center at UCSD.

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Twenty-two years later, READ/San Diego has six full-time employees, three AmeriCorps volunteers and a permanent home behind the Malcolm X Library, 5148 Market St.

It also has more adults wanting assistance than it can sometimes handle. At any given time, the number of people waiting to be paired with a tutor is 80 to 150, Hardie said.

Last year, when the list had reached 150, the program had to suspend enrolling new students. Some people are left waiting for six months to a year.

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During READ/San Diego’s 20th annual tutor conference on June 12, at least 250 people, ranging in age from college students to retirees, spent their Saturday at the University of San Diego campus learning how to become better tutors. READ MORE !