Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy 2012 - Christy Aguirre, Branch Supervisor Southgate Branch, Sacramento Public Library

Outstanding Librarian
in Support of Literacy Award: 2012
Christy Aguirre, Branch Supervisor
Southgate Branch, Sacramento Public Library, CA

Christy Aguirre Movers & Shakers 2013 — Community Builders - Literacy Legacy

Library Journal: 3.19.2013

Thanks to branch supervisor Christy Aguirre, the Southgate Branch of the Sacramento Public Library (SPL), located in a poor neighborhood known for gang-related violence, has become a literacy-promoting safe space.

Almost immediately after joining Southgate in spring 2012, Aguirre, who has been with the Sacramento Public Library since 2008 (and before that spent seven years in the public libraries of San José), initiated partnerships with dozens of local businesses, city organizers, and public and private agencies to offer grant-funded programming and workshops to increase literacy across all ages and abilities.

She brought Desert Storm veterans from the Sacramento Veterans Resource and Rehab Center into SPL’s Adult Literacy Program and combined forces with the Southgate Recreation and Park District to support neighborhood Summer Reading Camps. She reached out to Head Start parents and caregivers, pregnant and parenting teens at the nearby alternative high school, struggling families in housing developments, the AIDS Housing Alliance, the Al-Arqam Islamic School, a shelter for women and children, and more.

The keystone of this literacy push is the summer reading program. To promote it, the library set up tables at events and locations all over Sacramento, including the Filipino Fiesta, San Francisco Junior Giants Baseball Summer Camp, National Night Out, Sacramento Zoo, and more. Library staff visited schools, made presentations at parent/teacher meetings and before the media, and distributed flyers.  READ MORE !

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
2011: Patricia Lorenzo, Santa Clara County Library District
2010: Anne Cain, Contra Costa County Library
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

SCLLN Literacy Tutor Training: April 2013

SCLLN Tutor Workshop Calendar: April 2013

For Local, California and National

Literacy or Library Conferences and Events

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

Calendar

Apr 2 Literacy Tutor Orientation = Carlsbad Library 12p
Apr 4 Literacy Learner Orientation = READ/OC 1p
Apr 4 Literacy Learner Orientation = READ/OC 6p
Apr 4 Literacy Tutor Training = Burbank Library 6p
Apr 6 Literacy Tutor Training = San Diego Co Library 10a
Apr 8 Family Literacy Training = Huntington Beach Library 11a
Apr 10 Literacy Learner Training = READ/San Diego 5:45p
Apr 13 Literacy Tutor Training = WALC Whittier Area Literacy 9a
Apr 14 Walk Run READ = Huntington Beach Library
Apr 16 Literacy Tutor Orientation = Huntington Beach Library 6:30p
Apr 16 Literacy Tutor Orientation = READ/OC 1p
Apr 16 Literacy Tutor Orientation = READ/OC 6p
Apr 16 Literacy READ Tour = Ventura County Library 6:30p
Apr 17 Literacy Learner Training = READ/San Diego 9:45a
Apr 17 Literacy Learner Orientation = Newport Beach Library 10a
Apr 18 Literacy Tutor Orientation = Carlsbad Library 6p
Apr 18 Literacy Tutor Training = READ/San Diego 6p
Apr 19 The Gift of Literacy = Newport Beach Library 11a
Apr 19 Scrabble FUNraiser = Azusa Library 6p
Apr 20 Gold Coast Ride For Literacy = Ventura Co Library (Ventura Ojai Century Ride)
Apr 23 Literacy Tutor Training = Huntington Beach Library 6p
Apr 24 Literacy Tutor Orientation = Newport Beach Library 10a
Apr 25 Spell-a-Bration = Burbank Library 7p
Apr 28 Tea In the Garden = Monrovia Library 1p

PLA Innovations in Literacy Scholarships

PLA Innovations in Literacy Scholarships
Application Deadline: March 29 Online (by 11:59pm Central)

The PLA Innovations in Literacy Scholarships will recognize innovative literacy programs of all types in public libraries. Eight $1,000 travel grants will be awarded to winning applicants to be used for registration and travel to the PLA 2014 Conference in Indianapolis. Winning literacy programs should be unique and inventive and must have had measurable impact on the community the library serves. Programs in early literacy, adult literacy, digital literacy, transliteracy, information literacy, financial literacy, etc., will all be considered. Scholarships are supported by a generous donation from the Cambria Estate Winery, which has a strong tradition of supporting literacy initiatives.

Criteria
The purpose of the scholarship is to highlight innovative literacy programs in public libraries; literacy is defined broadly. Programs in early literacy, adult literacy, digital literacy, transliteracy, information literacy, financial literacy, etc., are all appropriate for consideration. Candidates must submit an online application describing the public library's achievement in creative literacy programming for the community, how it increased the use of or improved awareness of the public library, and the applicant’s role in developing or implementing the program. Programs should be unique and cutting-edge and have a measurable impact on the library's clientele. Applications will be judged on the following:
•Innovation and creativity
•Collaborative efforts of the staff and community in the planning and implementation process
•Measurements of success in the community based on usage, program attendance, or greater community awareness
•Sustainability of the program over time
•Program can be replicated by other public libraries
•Quality and appropriateness of submitted materials (supporting documents may be included)

Applicants from public libraries of any size are eligible. Eight applicants will be selected for their work on the library’s literacy program. The library’s literacy program will be identified in media/publicity pieces. No award shall be given if the applicants do not meet the award criteria.

Centro Latino for Literacy - L.A. Has Work to Do on Literacy

L.A. Has Work to Do on Literacy
LA Business Journal: February 25 – March 3, 2013, p. 75
Op-Ed written by Mari Riddle
(president and chief executive of Centro Latino for Literacy)
on Centro Latino for Literacy Website - Media

In recent national speeches, President Obama has outlined a series of principles on the need for comprehensive immigration reform. While immigration remains a key issue in a global city like Los Angeles, the current local elections and its victors will steward our vibrant city in this highly competitive, complex and interconnected world.

To remain competitive, we – as elected officials, business executives and non-profit leaders – must focus our efforts to maintain and produce an educated and skilled workforce not only in the formal economy, but also in the informal economy. By the informal economy, I’m referring to unregulated and unreported economic activity.

According to a 2005 Economic Roundtable report, “Hopeful Workers, Marginal Jobs: L.A.’s Off-the-Books Labor Force,” an estimated 16 percent of the city’s workforce is employed in the informal economy. This represents $3.6 billion in annual payroll, if we assume an annualized wage of $12,000. At the Los Angeles County level, this annual payroll amount rises to $8 billion.

For many individuals who experience lack of upward mobility in the formal economy due to lack of human capital, English proficiency and basic literacy skills, the informal economy remains a viable option for them to pursue economic opportunities. While informal workers lack basic governmental regulations and protections in the workplace, they also fail to report income during tax season.

To help integrate these informal workers into the mainstream, we first need to address the high rate of nonliteracy among many of these individuals, particularly among Spanish speaking adults. In the county, for instance, the U.S. census’ 2011 American Community Survey finds that more than 220,000 adult Spanish speakers are functionally nonliterate in either Spanish or English. By increasing literacy among these individuals, we will increase the level of human capital and economic productivity in our local economy.  READ MORE !

Whittier Areal Literacy Council: March 16

Soup & A Good Book: March 16
Whittier Area Literacy Council
12:00pm-2:30pm

This year's theme is "Reading makes Sense" and our students' paragraph writings in their own beautiful language will once again be performed by Whittier College's Theater art students and we will enjoy delicious soups from local restaurants.

Our guest speaker will be Margarita Medina who is an Alma award-winning actress and writer with numerous television and movie appearances. $6.00 for Adults & $4.00 for children (12 and under)

For tickets and additional information please contact WALC at (562) 698-6598.

First Christian Church
Newman Hall
12911 Hadley Street
Whittier

Literacy Jobs: California

Literacy Jobs: California

Literacy Tutor-Student Coordinator: FT
Redwood City Library
Application Deadline: April 1

Work with the volunteer tutor trainers and the program director recruiting students and volunteer tutors for the program as well as promoting the program in the community.

Literacy Jobs: California

Literacy Jobs: California

Deputy Director - PT
Central Coast Literacy Council
Application Deadline: Mar 18
The goal is that the deputy director will step into the executive director role in 2014.
Qualified candidates for the deputy director position should be fluent in English and Spanish. The position is part-time, Monday through Thursday, and offers paid vacation, holidays and a health care contribution.

AmeriCorps
Monterey County United for Literacy
Application Deadline: thru July 19
Enable Monterey County children to read well and independently by the end of the third grade so that they can read to learn in the fourth grade and beyond. The program targets children in Kindergarten through 4th grade in Salinas and in South Monterey County.

AmeriCorps
Notre Dame - SF
Application Deadline: thru Aug 15
Assist in classroom teaching - Assist in tutoring students in schools - Manage, organize, and teach after school enrichment programs for students - Mentor children with incarcerated parents - Facilitate conflict resolution.

AmeriCorps
AppleCorps – Santa Barbara
Application Deadline: thru Sep 30
39 members (21 full and 18 half-time) serve at 17+ public school sites in teams of 2 or more and tutor students that test below proficiency in reading at least 60 minutes a week (individually or in small groups of 2-5 students).

AmeriCorps
Unity Council-Lens – SF/Oakland/San Jose
Application Deadline: thru Aug 31
Tutor students in English Language Arts (elementary, middle or high school level) * Keep daily record of participants, and tutoring activities * Attend and participate in trainings * Attend and participate community service events.