Santa Maria Library - There’s a New Website for Tutors!

There’s a New Website for Tutors!
Central Coast Literacy Newsletter: Spring 2010

Tutor911 is now available. Sharon Hushka, Bethel-Daytime Center Director, recently created a website with a variety of resources and information available for tutors to use as they endeavor to enhance the learning process for their students.

Some highlights are posted below.
The Tutor Workshop Handbook is available on-line, including the Table of Contents. The Life Skills page offers links to different subjects about the community, financial, and employment issues.

On the Tutor Aids page, resources offered include Dialogue: Common Student Goals. Starting with a list of more than a dozen broad topics, there are at least ten different questions (and answers) posted. These questions allow the students to discuss the different subjects. The interaction can be on a one-to-one basis or as part of a regular group discussion.

As a way to stay organized and to monitor a student's process, the tutor can use the Student Literacy Placement & Progress Record. This form provides links to resources found in the Tutor Workshop Handbook and entries for some of the materials used in teaching, i.e. English, No Problem! and Rosetta Stone.

The Central Coast Literacy Council, in partnership with the Santa Maria Public Library, has a newly redesigned website; check it out .

San Diego Public Library - San Diego Public Library Foundation What’s Your Story ?

San Diego Public Library Foundation
What’s Your Story ?

Maria Gonzalez

“My goal in writing my story is to let the world know the importance of literacy and how READ/San Diego affected my life and family.” Following her participation in the Library’s READ/San Diego program, Mira Gonzalez passed her GED, found a job and became active in her children’s education. Read more.

Bob Perez“I got my first library card ever at the age of 84. You are never too old to learn and you've got to make an effort to learn because it will change your life. You couldn't ask for anything better than READ/San Diego and the San Diego Public Library.” Eighty-eight-year-old Bob Perez proves you can gain literacy skills at any age. Read more.

Maria Federico “Oscar loved the book of poetry so much…he hasn’t put it down since! But I really don’t mind. I’m so happy he is reading.” Maria Federico brings her youngest children to the Library twice a month to attend the Families for Literary programs – an activity that is making a big difference for her son, Oscar Acevedo. Read more.

Evilia Herrerra“The library’s computer phonics game helped prepare my son, Angel, to read.” Five-year-old Angel Herrerra gained many skills from the Early Childhood Literacy Workstations at his branch library - including a love of learning and reading. Read more.

San Bernardino Public Library - Rights to Literacy Campaign

Rights to Literacy Campaign
Julia Amante Blog: July 29, 2010 - Repost

As an author and former teacher, a mother of young children and a Latina-American who adores and credits libraries and books with the fact that she had the opportunity to become literate, I'm very proud to be participating in a rights to literacy campaign this weekend at my local library.

The best way for me to share information about this event is to let the two fabulous ladies running the events this weekend speak for themselves.

Linda Adams, Computer Lab Coordinator
Paula Miller, Literacy Program Coordinator

Julia: The Norman F. Feldheym Library always has so many great events for the community. You have an upcoming event this weekend. Can you share what the Delcaration to the Rights to Literacy National Literacy Campaign is, and what the public will be signing between July 31st and August 3rd?

Linda and Paula: In June 2009 at the National Community Literacy Conference, a Right to Literacy Convention convened. Delegates from across the country discussed and voted on the U. S. Declaration for the Right to Literacy.

The need is 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 make change and impact economic prosperity. The right to literacy must be a National priority!

The Declaration of the Right to Literacy is supported by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The Right to Literacy Declaration scroll has traveled the country and has been signed by tens of thousands of supporters. The scroll is making its way to the White House and is expected to be presented to President Obama in September 2010 for Literacy Awareness month.

Julia: Wow, that's exciting! I can't wait to sign it. I agree that being literate is the a great determiner of success in life. I always told my students that if they learned to read, they could learn about anything that interested them. It opens doors to their future.

Linda and Paula: Yes, literacy is essential to ensure prosperity for the nation and self determination for the individual. Changes at the national, regional and local level must take place.

Julia: What events will you have and are they open to the public?

Linda and Paula:

On Saturday, July 31 11:00 am to 4:00 pm we have the Local Author Event you'll be participating in. The “Right to Literacy” -- Authors in Support of Literacy

Local Authors will be invited to display, promote and sell their books as well as sign the Literacy Scroll to show their support.

The public will also be encouraged to sign and view the Scroll.

On Tuesday, August 3 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm we'll have - “Right to Literacy” – A Local Celebrations. Jack L. Hill Literacy Center Open House 3:00 – 5:00 pm

An Open House will showcase the Literacy Department of the Library and will be a precursor to the evening event highlighting the Scroll

Well have speakers 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Local Education and Literacy Advocates speak about their lives and work in promotion of a more literate America.

Speakers will include: Miss Dorothy InghramMr. John WeeksMr. Phil Yeh

Reception 7:00 – 8:00 pmLocal politicians and other dignitaries will be invited to sign the “Declaration for the Right to Literacy” Scroll.

These events are open to the public

Julia: What other programs or events are available at the library throughout the year to encourage Literacy?

Linda and Paula:

The Jack L. Hill Literacy Center at the library provides basic literacy, ESL and citizenship classes as well as homework assistance to school age youth to over 450 adults per year. Today the Literacy Center is venturing into helping people with job seeking and preparation. Although this has always been a small portion of what our adult learners are taught, this year finds us working more diligently on this topic.

The library also has a summer reading program for children and teens. We also have early literacy, baby story time and preschool story times to encourage families to be involved in their children’s reading.

Julia: My students in the past, and my own children have participated in some of these programs, like the summer reading program, so I know they are wonderful. Thank you so much for all you do, and I look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

I encourage anyone who lives close to the library to stop by and sign the scroll!

Here is the library address:Norman F. Feldhym Central Library
555 W. 6th St.
San Bernardino, Ca. 92410
Hugs,
Julia

Thank you to Julia Amante for allowing SCLLN to repost from her blog.

CA & National Literacy Calendar: August 2010

California Literacy Calendar: August 2010

SCLLN

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

visit

Southern California Library Literacy Networkfor more information

Updates of Tutor Training Workshops Scrolling in Left Frame

Local and California Literacy Events: August 2010

Aug 2: Intro Orton-Gillingham = Cyberspace
Aug 3: Sign 'Right to Literacy' Scroll @ 3pm-7pm = San Bernardino Library
Aug 3: LD Parent Support Group @ 7pm - Culver City
Aug 4: LD Parent Support Group @ 7pm – Sherman Oaks
Aug 5-8: Steinbeck Festival – Salinas CA
Aug 7: Autism Sensory Films CATS & DOGS @10am – in local AMC theaters
Aug 14: LD Adult Support Group @10am – Tarzana
Aug 21: Black Book Expo – LA

National Literacy Events: August 2010

Aug 4-6: Distance Teaching & Learning – Madison WI
Aug 7: Autism Sensory Films CATS & DOGS @10am – AMC theaters by state

Monrovia Library - Learner Poetry

Learner Poetry
Monrovia Literacy Blog
July 26, 2010

One of our learners wrote this poem, which I thought was lovely. Please feel free to post any comments about it or comments for me to pass on to the learner !

A girl dreamed of going to a foreign country,
she imagined she would be free from having her parents lecture her on her behavior.
one day, her dream came true. she felt very happy and free,
but she felt very lonely all day long.
she lived with her family in her dream at night.
it was just a dream and when she woke up in the morning,
she realized that leaving home needed bravery.

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!