SAVE CA 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!

Once again, we need your help writing letters -- lots of letters!

Why?

We have a good news/bad news situation.

The good news is that libraries and literacy are in the budget for 2013/2014!!
The bad news is that the amount budgeted for literacy is a 38% reduction from 2010/2011.
- we are serving an increased number of adult learners with 24% fewer staff and 14% fewer tutors
- staff is not available to recruit, train and manage our volunteer force

EVERYONE -- tutors, learners, literacy professionals, and friends

Rise to the occasion and Write letters. Lots of letters – by April 24th

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.

SAMPLE LETTER:

April xx, 2013

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla
Chair, Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4140
Sacramento, CA 94249
Dear Assemblywoman Bonilla,

Thank you for your support of public libraries and literacy services, and for recognizing the impact libraries can have on the lives of Californians.

As you are no doubt aware, in the last five years, State funding to support coordinated library programs administered at the local level went from over $30 million to $15 million to zero, and then bounced back to a minimal $4.7 million. The Governor’s current budget proposal maintains the $4.7 million in funding for statewide regional library systems and for California Library Literacy Services.

The California Library Association is requesting a budget augmentation that would, for a very small amount of money, truly transform the way libraries deliver services. The $5 million augmentation request includes three components:
1. $2.25 million to partner with the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives In California (CENIC), which currently provides internet infrastructure for County offices of education, community colleges, and the CSU and UC systems, to bring a high-speed, fiber optic internet infrastructure to the front door of each of the 1,116 public library outlets in the State. Senator Carol Liu is sponsoring SB 331, which would enable this funding to be administered through the California Library Services Act.
2. $2 million to provide grant funding for libraries in need of obtaining circuits or other technology required to make local connections to the broadband network
3. $750,000 to partially reinstate the State cuts to Literacy programs, in order to prevent programs from closing due to lack of funding. The State’s current investment of $2.7 million in California Library Literacy Services is leveraged with local matches and strong volunteer support to help nearly 20,000 adult learners per year in over 800 library branches to better their reading and writing skills so they can more fully participate in California’s economy.
With access to high speed network connections, libraries will be much better positioned to support the internet service needs of Californians for conducting job searches, increasing job skills, accessing health care information, completing homework assignments for schoolchildren or college students, and applying for government benefits at the State and Federal levels. With a minimal investment by the State to level the playing field for broadband access, we can ensure that even the most remote and underserved communities are placed on even footing with their more urban counterparts.

In addition to the many positive impacts this direct funding would have, the $5 million investment by the State would increase California’s matching funds that increase eligibility for Federal funding through the Library Services and Technology Act.

I thank you sincerely for your support of our efforts to improve access to technology, job skills, and educational opportunities for all Californians.

Best Regards,

In addition to sending a letter to Assemblymember Susan Bonilla (as addressed above), please send a letter (it can be the exact same letter!) to the following legislators:

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla
Chair, Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4140
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2170
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4117
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Brian Nestande
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Phil TingAssembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 3173
Sacramento, CA 94249

Senator Marty Block
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, room 4090
Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator Ted Gaines
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 3070
Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator Rod Wright
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2032
Sacramento, CA 95814

Thank you so much for all you do to support libraries and literacy!!!
Laura Seaholm
Program Manager
Contra Costa County Library
Project Second Chance
www.ccclib.org/psc
925.927.3250
lseaholm@ccclib.org

Literacy Library Jobs: California - Carlsbad - Napa Co

Literacy Jobs: California

Literacy Library Tech - PT
Carlsbad Library
Performs learner assessments, tutor training and reporting for the adult and teen literacy program in addition to proving traditional library services.
Application Deadline: April 23

Literacy & Volunteer Services Superivsor – FT
Napa County Library
Plans, organizes, coordinates and supervises the work of the literacy program and volunteer services for the Napa County Library; and develops, processes and writes grants for the literacy program.
Application Deadline: April 26

CA & National Literacy & Library Calendar: April 2013

Literacy & Library Calendar: April 2013

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- local, California and National -

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

April is:

Financial Literacy Month - National Poetry Month - School Library Month

Southern California and California Literacy Events: April 2013
Apr 2 International Children's Book Day
Apr 6 Literary Orange Festival of Authors, Irving
Apr 6+ Ojai WordFest
Apr 6 Sensory Friendly Films CROODS 2-D 10a
Apr 14+ National Library Week - Nationwide
Apr 14+ Young People's Poetry Week - Nationwide
Apr 17 Haiku Poetry Day - Nationwide
Apr 18+ CA Council on Adult Education Conference, Sacramento
Apr 20+ Los Angeles Times Festival of Books – USC
Apr 21+ National Volunteer Week
Apr 23 World Book Night GLOBAL A million reasons to read a book !
Apr 27 Black Writers on Tour - Carson Community Center
Apr 30 Dia El día de los niños/El día de los libros Díapalooza @ Public and School Libraries

National & International Literacy Events: April 2013
Apr 2 International Children's Book Day
Apr 2+ Early Educ Technology for Children Conf, Salt Lake City UT
Apr 5  Urban Librarians Conference, Brooklyn NY
Apr 6+ Latino Book & Family Festival, Cicero IL
Apr 6 Sensory Friendly Films CROODS 2-D Nationwide 10a
Apr 9   Wisconsin Health Literacy Summit Madison 12p
Apr 12 Drop Everything & Read Day
Apr 14+ National Library Week
Apr 14+ Young People’s Poetry Week
Apr 16  ClearMark Awards National Press Club, Washington DC
Apr 17+ Institute for Global Education Diplomacy, Washington DC
Apr 17+ Young Child Expo, NY NY
Apr 17  Haiku Poetry Day
Apr 21+ National Volunteer Week
Apr 19+ IRA Annual Conference, San Antonio TX
Apr 22+ Plain Talk About Reading, New Orleans LA
Apr 23  World Book Night GLOBAL A million reasons to read a book !
Apr 25+ American Occupational Therapy Assoc, San Diego CA
Apr 27+ American Educ Research Assc Conference, San Francisco CA
Apr 28+ National Conference on Family Literacy-NCFL, Louisville Ky
Apr 28+ National Literacy Coalition Conference, Pittsburg PA
Apr 30  Dia El día de los niños/El día de los libros Díapalooza @ Public and School Libraries

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

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 !