Governor Signs Budget Bill: $4.7M for Libraries

Governor Signs Budget Bill - Leaves $4.7 Million in Place For Libraries
Latest News – CLA: 6.28.2012 Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist; Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyist

The State Capitol has been quite busy this week, as the Legislature works feverishly to pass more than 20 Budget-related “trailer bills” to compliment the larger Budget bill that was passed and sent to the Governor on June 15. The Budget has been sitting on Governor Brown’s desk since that date, and he had until midnight Wednesday to sign the Budget bill, AB 1464 by Assemblyman Blumenfield (Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee). The Governor also has the ability to use his “blue pencil” authority to make reductions to the Budget bill. Fortunately, when Governor Brown signed the Budget, at 9:30 last night, he left in place $4.7 million that we and CLA members and supporters fought so hard for, which is intended to save the public library literacy programs and the California Library Services Act from elimination. READ MORE !

ASSEMBLY BILL No. 1464 – Amended in Senate, June 13, 2012 [ page 565 ]
6120-211-0001—For local assistance, California State Library, Program 20-Library Development Services 1,880,000
6120-213-0001—For local assistance, California State Library, Program 20-Library Development Services—California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program, pursuant to Section 18880 of the Education Code 2,820,000

Send Thank You Letters to

Assembly Members & State Senators for their SUPPORT !

Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield, Chair of the Budget Committee
Capitol Office
State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0040
(916) 319-2040

Assembly Member Jim Nielsen, Vice-Chair of the Budget Committee
Capitol Office
State Capitol Room #6031
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 319-2002

Senate Budget Subcom 1-Educ Finance
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
State Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 324-7543
Senator Ted Gaines
State Capitol, Room 3060
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 324-2680
Senator Rod Wright
State Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 445-3712

Assembly Budget Subcom 2-Educ Finance
Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, Chair
State Capitol, Room 2188
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2111
Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
State Capitol, Room 3141
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2126
Assemblywoman Julia Brownley
State Capitol, Room 2163
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2141
Assemblyman Brian Nestande
State Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2164
Assemblyman Sandre Swanson
State Capitol, Room 6012
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2116

Governor
c/o
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento CA 95814
916 . 445 . 2841

2016 California Book Festivals

California Book Festivals

books, comics, poetry, storytelling, writing and more !

January

Cowboy Poetry Gathering: Jan 30-Feb 4, Elko NV

Rancho Mirage Writers Festival: Jan 28-29

February

California Antiquarian Book Fair: Feb 10-12, Oakland

CODEX 2017: International Symposium & Book Fair, Berkeley

LA Art Book Fair: 2016, Geffen Contemporary @ MOCA

Long Beach Comic Expo: Feb 18-19, Convention Center

Marin Academy Literary Festival: 2016, San Rafael

Riverside Dickens Festival: Feb 25-26

San Diego Public Library – Local Authors: Feb

San Gabriel Valley Literary Festival: 2016

Southern California Writers’ Conference: Feb 17-20, SD

March

Read Across California

San Diego Public Library – Little Local Authors

Woman’ Scream" International Poetry Festival

Book Passage Children’s Writers & Illustrators Conf: Mar 4-5, Corte Madera

Charlotte S Huck Children's Literature Festival: Mar 3-4, Univ Redlands

LA Zine Fest: 2016, Majestic, 650 S Spring

Literary Women – Festival of Authors: Mar 4, Long Beach

Mariposa Storytelling Festival: Mar 10-12, Yosemite

San Diego Storytelling Festival: 2016, Encinitas Library

Sierra Valley Grange Cowboy Poetry: 2016, Vinton

Women's Literary Festival:  2016, Santa Barbara

World Storytelling Day: A global celebration of storytelling Mar 20

April

National Poetry Month

Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair: 2016, Oakland

Black Writers On Tour: 2016, Carson Community Center

California Bookstore Day Apr 30

Cowboy Poetry Week  Apr 16-22

Haiku Poetry Day Apr 17

International Edible Book Festival: Apr 1

L A Times Festival of Books, USC: Apr 22-23

Latino Book & Family Festival – Inland Empire: 2016, CSU San Bernardino

Literary Orange: 2016, Irvine

Ojai Storytelling Festival: 2017

Ojai Word Festival: 2016

Pasadena Festival of Women Authors: 2016
San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival: 2016

Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival: 2016, Old Town Newhall

SFJazz Poetry Festival: 2016, SFJAZZ Center

UkiaHaiku Festival: 2016

May

Berkeley Poetry Festival: 2016

Festival of Women Authors Orange County: 2016

Grand Park Downtown Bookfest: 2016, LA

Latino Book & Family Festival – Inland Empire: 2016 CSU San Bernardino

Oakland Book Festival: 2016

Steinbeck Festival: 2016 Salinas

Women's Literary Festival: 2016, Santa Barbara

June

Author Fair, El Segundo Library

Celebrating Words Festival: 2016, Pacoima

LitFest Pasadena, 2016

Sacramento Black Book Fair, June 02+

Bay Book Fest: June 03+, Berkeley

July
Comic-Con Intl: 2016, San Diego

LaborFest, SF: 2016

Sierra Storytelling Festival: 2016, Nevada City

August

Liemert Park Book Fair: 2016, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza

Tuolumne Meadows Poetry Festival: 2016, Parsons Lodge, Yosemite Natl Park

September

Comic Con Long Beach: Sep 17-18

Fall into Fiction UCAAB, Sep 22 Carson

Family Day at the Park: Sep 17 Stockton

Latino Book & Family Festival: Sep 10, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes

Library of Congress Natl Book Festival: Sep 24, Wash DC

Orange County Children's Book Festival: Sep 25 Orange Coast College

Pebble Beach Authors & Ideas Festival: Sep 23-25

San Francisco Zine Fest: Sep 4

ScholarShare Children’s Book Festival: Sep 24-25, Sacramento

Southern California Poetry Festival: Sep 10-11, Aquarium of Pacific LB

Southern California Writers’ Conf – LA: Sep 25-27, Irvine

Teen Book Festival, Sep 17 Pasadena Library 12N

WeHo Reads: Banned Books Sep 26, West Hollywood Library 11a

October

Authors in the OC: Oct 1, Anaheim

Book'd LA: Oct 20, North Hollywood

Burbank Library Local Authors Showcase: Oct 15 1p

Filipino American International Book Festival: 2017, San Francisco

Great Valley Bookfest: Oct 8, Manteca

High Desert Book Festival: Oct 1, Victorville 10a

Humboldt County Children's Author Festival: 2017

Lit Crawl LA: Oct 21, NOHO

LitQuake SF: Oct 6-15

San Diego City College Intl Book Fair: Oct 12-16

San Diego Jewish Book Fair: Oct 29-Nov 6

Stan Lee's Comikaze: Oct 28-30, LA Convention Center

Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival: Oct 1, Berkeley

November

Loomis Cowpoke Gathering: Nov 10-13

San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival: Nov 5-20

Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival: Nov 18-20

Jewish Book Month: Nov 24-Dec 24

December

Howard Zinn Book Fair: Dec 4, San Francisco City College Mission Campus

ALOUD: Library Foundation of Los Angeles  @ALOUDla

California Book Festivals

Los Angeles Literary Calendar  @LALitScene

Poetry Flash – So & No California

Poets & Writers Los Angeles Literary Events Calendar

Storytelling Association of California

African American Book Events

Book Fairs by State Library of Congress

Book Reporter – Book Festivals

Children’s Book Council Kid Lit Events

College Children’s & Young Adult Literature Conferences Festivals

Everfest Book Festival Calendar

ILA :: Literacy Calendar Worldwide

Storytelling Events

US Book Festivals

Save California Libraries & Literacy - ADVOCATE !

SAVE CA LIBRARIES LITERACY - ADVOCATE !

The Budget Subcommittees are gearing up to meet, so it's time to make our voices heard and work to reinstate funding for libraries and literacy!

EVERYONE -- tutors, learners, literacy professionals, and friends -- must rise to the occasion and write letters. Lots of letters!! Some things to keep in mind . . .

1. Handwritten letters are the best, but if you can't do that, don't worry -- send a typed letter.
2. Volume matters! Our goal is a minimum of 200 letters on the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chairpersons' desks, with copies on the committee members' desks.
3. You can use the same wording in your letters to the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chairs.
4. Personal stories make a difference. Ask your tutors and students to write about the difference your literacy program has made in their lives.

See a sample letter below to get you started. More Advocacy Tips @ CLA.

It's best to send your letter via U.S. Mail. 2nd best is fax.

Do NOT email your letter -- emails are not effective.

Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814

Stage 1: 200+ Letters BEFORE March 31

Stage 2: 200+ Letters in the Spring

Senator Senator Carol Liu,Chair

Dear Senator Liu,Please reinstate funding for public libraries --$3.7 million to Adult Literacy Programs (the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Program), $8.5 million to the California Library Services Act, and $3 million to the Public Library Foundation.

I would like to specifically address the $3.7 million for Adult Literacy Programs, which serve English-speaking adults who read at less than a 6th grade level.

It is estimated that 23% of adults in California lack basic literacy skills such that they would be unable to fill out a job application. Last year these programs served 22,733 adult learners using 12,609 volunteer tutors who volunteered 855,206 hours (a value of $20 million in volunteer time). Additionally, the programs leveraged every $1 of state funds to raise $5 in local/private funds, much of which will not be available without the state's money to leverage.

We received no state funds in 2011/2012 which closed several programs and forced surviving programs to make deep cuts to program hours and staffing levels. We estimate that we will serve 25% fewer learners (approximately 5,500 adults) as a result. This is in addition to our existing state-wide waiting list of 3,000 adults. If funds are not restored for 2012/2013, up to 42 more programs could close.

There are very few other options for these adults. 57% of our programs reported that there is no other local service. And 76% reported a decrease in service or the elimination of their local adult school.

Don't let this happen! Improving literacy makes good economic sense when you consider that 70% of our adult learners were in their prime wage-earning years (ages 20 - 49). And the programs work -- of the adults who set the goal: 48% wrote their first resume; 58% were able to fill out a job application; and 53% found a job. California clearly needs programs that produce results like this.

Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)

cc: Senator Ted Gaines
Senator Rod Wright

Senate Budget Subcommittee 1-Educ Finance
Senator Carol Liu, ChairState Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 324-7543

Senator Ted GainesState Capitol, Room 3060
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 324-2680

Senator Rod WrightState Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 445-3712

Assembly Budget Subcom 2-Educ FinanceAssemblywoman Susan Bonilla, ChairState Capitol, Room 2188
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2111

Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
State Capitol, Room 3141
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2126

Assemblywoman Julia BrownleyState Capitol, Room 2163
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2141

Assemblyman Brian NestandeState Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2164

Assemblyman Sandre Swanson
State Capitol, Room 6012

Sacramento, CA 95814

Fax: (916) 319-2116

. . . from
Laura Seaholm - Program Manager, Project Second ChanceContra Costa County Library

WordCount: 86,800 Most Common Words

86,800 Most Common Words

The WordCount website is alive and well !

It was created by Jonathan Harris in 2004. Here’s link to a conversation with him @ Wordmaster on Sep 2, 2004.

WordCount

an interactive presentation of the
86,800 most frequently used English words

Anonymous reported that Wordcount was no longer available (see comment). Contacted Jonathan Harris; he said the site was being moved to a new host and would be up and running soon.

Here are 2 other lists of the most common English words:
6000 Most Frequently Used English Words
Word Frequency Lists and Dictionary: Corpus of Contemporary American English

CA & National Literacy Calendar: March 2012

California Literacy Calendar: March 2012

SCLLN

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

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

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

Read Across America Day: March 2
World Read Aloud Day: March 7

Southern California Literacy Events: March 2012Mar 02+: Charlotte S Huck Children's Literature Festival – U Redlands
Mar 02+: IDA, Inland Empire Annual Conference – Riverside
Mar 07: Sensory Film – The LORAX 10am
Mar 10: Literary Women - Long Beach Festival of Authors

California Literacy Events: March 2012
Mar 07+: CABE Conference – Sacramento
Mar 09+: Mariposa Storytelling FestivalMar 15+: California Language Teachers Assn Conf – Los Angeles
Mar 15+: CUE Conference – Palm Springs

National & International Literacy Events: March 2012Mar 07: Sensory Film – The LORAX 10am
Mar 08+: We Learn - Women & Literacy – Univ Rhode Island
Mar 12+: Everyone Reading Conference NY
Mar 13+: Public Library Assn Conf – Philadelphia
Mar 14+: Early Education Technology for Children Conf – Salt Lake City
Mar 16: Transliteracy, Technology and Teaching – University at Albany
Mar 25+: National Conf on Family Literacy-NCFL – San DiegoMar 28+: Global Summit on Childhood – Washington DC
Mar 28+: TESOL Annual Convention – Philadelphia
Mar 30+: Latino Children's Literature Conf – University of Alabama
Mar 31+: Latino Book & Family Festival – Chicago

Monrovia Library - Local Retiree Teaches Literacy and Language at Library

Local Retiree Teaches Literacy and Language at Library
Bailey Bishop works with two English language learners on a weekly basis.
Monrovia Patch: 2.13.2012 by Alison Roeske

Bishop was introduced to the Monrovia Public Library’s Literacy Program by way of his friend Alan Wayte, who is another long-term tutor. For the past three years, Bishop has been working with Alma Lara, a mother and homemaker who is originally from Mexico.

"This student of mine knew very little English when I first started working with her. She told me that she feels some gratification and she’s improving and looks forward to bigger and better things as we move along," he said.

.    .    .    .    .

"I think it’s one of the better libraries in Southern California. The literacy section is good. Good teaching materials," he said. READ MORE !

SCLLN Writer To Writer Awards: 2011

2011 Writer To Writer Awards

Southern California Library Literacy Network
2012 Literacy Conference - Lunch Ceremony

Adult Learners read or listened to a book that inspired them and wrote a letter to the author.Congratulations to every Adult Learner who wrote a letter !

Emerging category (dictate a letter to tutor or staff)

Winner—Ramon G, Carlsbad City Library Learning Center
Runner Up—Flavio G, San Diego County Library-Vista
Runner Up—Sam F, Carlsbad City Library Learning Center

Beginning category (write basic, simple letter independently)

Winner—Shaina K, Newport Beach Central Public Library
Runner Up—Erica S, “Let’s Read, Altadena!” Altadena Library District
Runner Up—Anonymous, Newport Beach Central Public Library

Intermediate category (write a more complex letter with larger vocabulary)

Winner—Teruyo M, Newport Beach Central Public Library
Runner Up—Patricia W, San Diego Public Library-READ/San Diego
Runner-Up—Linda P, Carlsbad City Library Learning Center

Advanced category (independently with little support from tutor or staff)

Winner—Anonymous, Carlsbad City Library Learning Center
Runner Up—Hermond J, Carlsbad City Library Learning Center
Runner Up—Javier V, Huntington Beach Public Library