Santa Barbara Library - Can You Read This? Thank Your Lucky Stars

Can You Read This?
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Santa Barbara Independent:
January 13, 2010 by Barney Brantingham

GETTING LITERATE AT THE LIBRARY: You’re reading these words just fine? Breezing right through the good old Indy? Well, for nearly a fifth of Santa Barbara County adults, it might be a struggle. Or just about impossible.

Some speak English but lack basic literacy skills. Some have dyslexia, which scrambles letters in a maddening, frustrating way. “I had one heck of a hard time in school,” Jane (not her real name) told me.

“I couldn’t read a street sign,” she said. “In school, I was put in special education. They just stuck you in a room and treated you as retarded. They [L.A. schools] graduated me, but I didn’t learn anything. I couldn’t read the directions on a box for cooking. My mother and a lot of people put me down. I had never read a book through until I was 50 years old.”

Now, thanks to the Santa Barbara Public Library’s Literacy Program, Jane, who “hated” computers, now works on one, attends community college in another state, and was just hired for a $25-per-hour job requiring reading. “I don’t read fast, but I read, and that’s a big deal for me.”

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

About 200 people are working hard to learn or improve their English through the library’s Adult Literacy Program, thanks to a dedicated corps of unpaid tutors. One is Mary Lou LaBarge, a retired nurse who, for the past six years, has worked with a highly motivated man named Juan, who reads and writes well in Spanish and does math in his head, but struggles with English.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

The library’s literacy program is funded by the state and this year by about $15,000 in private donations and grants, according to Beverly Schwartzberg, library adult coordinator.

Flash: I just learned that in his proposed new budget, Governor Jerry Brown terminates all statewide library literacy funding, including Santa Barbara’s program.

Schwartzberg left me with the sobering fact that about 14 percent of Americans “can’t read a newspaper or fill out a job application” and another 29 percent are at “basic level.” READ MORE !

CA: Library Funding Decimated

GOVERNOR RELEASES 2011-12 BUDGET - LIBRARY FUNDING DECIMATED
Proposal Would Eliminate All State Funding for PLF, TBR and Literacy
CLA Blog: January 10, 2011 by Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

This morning newly elected Governor, Jerry Brown, released his 2011-12 Budget proposal, calling it "painful" and one that "requires sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice." The plan recommends a whopping $12.5 billion in cuts and $12 billion in revenue options in order to address the staggering $25 billion Budget, as well as a "vast and historic restructuring of services," as part of the Governor's realignment proposal. Of the cuts revealed- by Governor Brown today is a proposal to completely eliminate all state funding for the Public Library Foundation, Transaction Based Reimbursement and the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Service. This amount totals $30.4 million.
$12.9 million cut to the PLF
$12.9 million cut to the TBR
$4.6 million cut to the literacy program

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

The Governor expects the legislature to act on these proposed cuts - including the library related cuts - in the next few months.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

As best we understand the Governor's plan, the $30 million cut to the library programs would not be backfilled with the Governor's ballot revenue proposal. Instead, those revenues would be used to prevent additional cuts to K-12 education funding and other programs, and to begin the phase-in of the Governor's realignment proposal. The first phase of realignment focuses on public safety services, the second phase focuses on the implementation of the federal health care initiative, and under the Governor's plan, redevelopment agencies and enterprise zones would also be eliminated.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

In the meantime, please take a moment to contact your Assemblymember and Senator and express your concerns over these devastating cuts to the Public Library Foundation, Transaction Based Reimbursement and Literacy programs. Urge them to reject these cuts when the issue is before them in the coming weeks. READ MORE !

Find your Assembly Member or State Senator

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841

Corona Library :: From illiterate to role model :: John Zickefoose

From illiterate to role model
Once, John Zickefoose couldn't read to his children or order from a menu. Today, he's a school board member and Corona library advocate.
LA Times: January 5, 2011 by Carla Rivera

The metamorphosis is as quick as the turn of a page: John Zickefoose is a hyperactive goose, a laid-back bear, a monkey, a tiger. The children at the Corona Public Library squeal with laughter as the man whose name rhymes with Seuss becomes louder and more animated.

There was a time when reading the simple words of a picture book would have proved impossible for Zickefoose. He spent years in school overwhelmed with sadness that nothing came as easily to him as it did for others. He would become rowdy, preferring to be kicked out of class than to be called on by the teacher.

Zickefoose was functionally illiterate, unable to read a prescription label, his children's report cards or a menu. He was diagnosed as a young boy with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and didn't learn to read and write until he was 35.

That's when everything changed. He became a poster boy for the Corona library's adult reading program, began to speak publicly about his own struggles and was named the library's literacy director. He founded a nonprofit youth organization.

And on Dec. 7, Zickefoose, 52, was sworn in as a member of the Corona-Norco Unified School District Board of Education.

For the boy who couldn't understand the words on his high school diploma, the journey to the school board was the culmination of a vow to do something meaningful in life and help prevent others from starting out as he did.

"I'll be able to bring, quite frankly, an unusual perspective of what it feels like to be in the classroom and be a failure," Zickefoose said. "I don't want any child to go through what I went through."

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

An estimated 30 million American adults can't read a newspaper or fill out a job application. Many have learning disabilities. Others are dropouts, victims of failing school systems. Some are immigrants with deficient English language skills who may also be illiterate in their native tongues.

But Zickefoose is also an anomaly. Only about 5% of adults who need services receive them, mainly because there is still so much shame attached to the condition, said David C. Harvey, president and chief executive of ProLiteracy, an international advocacy group. Zickefoose serves on the board of directors.

"John is a national role model because one of the most effective ways to break down that stigma is to have people who have had this problem talk about it," Harvey said. "He's a shining example of what can happen when someone gets services and puts those new skills to work."

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Now outreach coordinator at the library, Zickefoose appears to be straight-arrow, business-minded, even professorial. But his tie, with an imprint of the Looney Tunes' Tasmanian Devil, hints at a whimsical nature.

He formed UNITY (United Neighbors Involving Today's Youth) in 1996, and it has evolved into a coalition of 80 public and private agencies that have secured more than $17 million for the Corona-Norco school district. A generation of students know him as Mr. Z from his appearances at school assemblies where he preaches perseverance, using his own life as an example.

As a school board member, Zickefoose wants to prepare students earlier for college and a career and to pursue more outside funds for such school programs as arts and music. READ MORE !

Literacy Tribune: January 2011

Literacy Tribune: January 2011
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:
Which Came First: Reading or Writing? by Bud Pues
What does the word “read” really mean?

A History Lesson: Franklin D. Roosevelt by Alison Werner
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often known simply as FDR, was born in Hyde Park, New York, on January 30, 1882, to a wealthy family.

Member Spotlight: Taking That First Step: Milton Whitley
Admitting you need help with anything is hard. Asking for help can be even harder. But making the decision to ask for help can change one’s life, as many adult learners have discovered.

Technology Watch: Dropbox by Daniel Pedroza
Ever wonder what would happen if your computer was stolen or damaged? How would you recover your files? Dropbox is a great option for protecting your computer files.

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: January 2011

California Literacy Calendar: January 2011

SCLLN

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

visit

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

Info about local Tutor Training Workshops is always Scrolling in the Right Frame.

Local and California Literacy Events: January 2011

Jan 8-10am: Learning Disabilities Adult Support Group – Tarzana
Jan 8-10am: Sensory Friendly Films -YOGI BEAR – AMC Theaters
Jan 14+: Asilomar Reading Conference – Pacific Grove
Jan 14+: CA Kindergarten Conference – Santa Clara
Jan 21: What’s New in Children’s Literature, BER - Sacramento
Jan 21+: Riverside Dickens Festival
Jan 27: Practical Strategies-Students Learning Challenges, BER – Arcadia

National & International Literacy Events: January 2011

Jan 4+: Hawaii Intl Conference on Education
Jan 8-10am: Sensory Friendly Films -YOGI BEAR – AMC Theaters
Jan 26+: Assistive Tech Industry Assn Conference – Orlando
Jan 27: Family Literacy Day - Canada

Huntington Beach Library - Job Posting: LITERACY PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Huntington Beach Public Library
Job Posting: LITERACY PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Closing Date: January 21, 2011
Salary: $4,463.00 - $5,529.00 Monthly
Job Type: Full-Time
Closing Date: January 21, 2011
Salary: $4,463.00 - $5,529.00 Monthly
Job Type: Full-Time

JOB SUMMARY: Under general supervision, plans, implements, coordinates, promotes, and supervises all training provided by the Adult Literacy Program.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Reports to: Senior Librarian
Supervises: Volunteer program tutors

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The Literacy Program Specialist is a single-position classification with responsibility for overseeing all training programs to improve adult literacy.

Examples of Essential Duties:

• Designs, develops and coordinates adult literacy programs offered by the City Library

• Recommends and implements goals and objectives related to adult literacy; establishes schedules and methods for providing adult literacy programs; implements policies and procedures

• Trains and supervises paid and volunteer support staff; recruits, trains and supports tutors; assigns duties and completes employee performance appraisals.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, administration, library science, social or behavioral science or other closely related field.

Experience: Three (3) years’ experience developing and implementing adult education programs and activities.

An official City of Huntington Beach online job application must be filled out in its entirety. READ MORE !

Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy 2010 - Anne Cain Contra Costa County Library

OUTSTANDING LIBRARIAN
IN SUPPORT OF LITERACY AWARD
2010 Award Winner: Anne Cain
Contra Costa County Library

Anne Cain understands the strong correlation between reading skills and everyday success. As such, under her leadership the Project Second Chance (PSC) has become an integral part of the Contra Costa County Library's strategic plan to support reading and literacy. Anne keenly understands that the cause of literacy needs to be a consistent presence in the community, and she has fought successfully to make all PSC staff county positions rather than temporary contract staff. Further, in an era of terrible cut-backs, she has never hinted that cut-backs might be required in literacy. Anne values PSC and uses our program as a model for service delivery throughout the library.

But perhaps even more important than all this is that Anne "gets it." She understands the importance of volunteers. She talks to students like the real people they are and listens to them, is touched by their courage, and celebrates their successes. One PSC student, Kristi C., stated"Anne Cain has been a huge supporter of PSC. She believes everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to read, and she knows that reading can change your life. I know from personal experience that Anne Cain is a literacy hero."

Anne has always said that knowing PSC students has made her a better person. Well, Anne has made PSC a better program. Retiring in November, 2010, Anne's and her fan club - all of the staff, tutors, and students of PSC - want her to know that her legacy of support for literacy will live on. And we hope that she will receive this well-deserved recognition as she truly is an "Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy."

This award, established in 2003 (Literacy Interest Group), recognizes and honors a librarian who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support literacy.

Past Winners
2009: Derek Wolfgram, Santa Clara County Library
2008: Jean Hofacket, Alameda County Library
2007: Carol Starr, Marin County Free Library
2006: John M. Adams, Orange County Public Library
2005: Sofia Bellos, Oxnard Public Library
2004: Leslie McGinnis Rodd, Oakland Public Library
2003: Chuck Aston, Redwood City Public Library