Imperial County Library - Imperial County adult literacy still a challenge

Imperial County adult literacy still a challenge

Imperial Valley Press: 2.20.2014 by Heric Rubio

When Monica Woo came to the United States from Korea 15 years ago, the English language was as foreign to her as the country she was arriving in.

Even after becoming a citizen, it still took the El Centro resident a run-in with immigration officers before deciding to take on the task of learning the language.

“Two years ago I went to Korea and when I came back, immigration asked me what I had to declare, and I couldn’t answer,” Woo said.

So with the help of Adult Literacy Services at the Imperial Public Library, she embarked on a mission to not only speak, but read English as well, a decision that she says has left her feeling happier and more confident.

With the most recent Imperial County statistics available showing an illiteracy rate dangerously close to 50 percent, stories like Woo’s could likely be found throughout the Valley.

Last conducted in 2003, the National Assessment of Adult Literacy is a representative assessment of English literacy among American adults age 16 or older, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

During the assessment, 41 percent of Imperial County’s population at the time was lacking basic prose literacy skills; almost triple the national rate of 14 percent.  READ MORE !

Huntington Beach Library - Wine & Words Fundraiser: Feb 22

Wine & Words: February 22

Huntington Beach Library Literacy Volunteers

Raffles!

Silent Auction!

Wines from Orange County wine company ONEHOPE!

Huntington Beach Library Literacy Volunteers second annual wine tasting event is coming up soon on Feb. 22.

Registration is $35 per person: Register today to reserve your spot.

Includes tasting opportunities of nine different wines, plus light appetizers, games and other fun, and raising funds for literacy!

HBPL will also have a raffle and silent auction opportunities, with the chance to win gift certificates to local restaurants, themed "Wine & Words" pairings, and more!

Some of the confirmed raffle prizes include:

• 2 tickets to Taste of Huntington Beach on April 27 (a $110 value)
• Four complimentary wine tastings at Orange Coast Winery (a $60 value)
• Dinner for 2 at Spaghetti Bender in Newport Beach
• $25 gift card to Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches
• $20 gift card to Daphne's California Greek Cafe
• GRAND PRIZE: 4 one-day park hopper tickets to the Disneyland Resort (a $548 value!)

Corona Library - CNN Hero John Zickefoose (Mr. Z) will speak at the LDA Adult Luncheon

CNN Hero John Zickefoose (Mr. Z) will speak at the LDA Adult Luncheon

“Yes You Can"

Mr.Z is a natural storyteller and delights in bringing books to young readers. But that was not always the case. There was a time when reading the simple words of a picture book would have proved impossible for Mr. Z. 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.

He 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. For more than 30 years, Mr. Z was illiterate, barely capable of writing or reading his own name. He managed to graduate from high school, but he admits that he could only read a few words on his diploma.

His second grade son began asking him for homework help that he could not provide. At his wife’s suggestion, Mr. Z contacted the Corona Public Library and began literacy classes. Empowered by his new reading skills, Mr. Z has become an advocate for the struggling youth and adults in our society, drawing upon his own experiences in learning how to read and succeed in life. He has appeared on ABC, NBC, CNN and PBS. He has also given numerous radio interviews.

2014 SCLLN Literacy Conference: March 8

Southern California Library Literacy Network
LITERACY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Is Now Open!

Early Bird Registration: Feb 24, 2014

SCLLN2014@GMAIL.COM

Click Here To Register (pdf file)
$ 40.00: SCLLN Member Tutors and Staff

$ 15.00: SCLLN Adult Learners

LUNCH ONLY - Writer To Writer Awards Ceremony
   Members: $ 40.00
   Non-members: $ 50.00

After Feb 24 or @ Conference:

$ 60.00: SCLLN Member Tutors and Staff

$ 25.00: SCLLN Adult Learners
Non-Members - $ 75.00

LUNCH: $ 50.00 everyone

NO REFUNDS AFTER FEBRUARY 24

Please complete and submit the registration form. Scroll down to for workshop descriptions; you may print the descriptions and decide before going back online and registering.

Workshops will fill up quickly, so register now for another great conference!

You can forward the pdf to your program participants and they can register online. Group registration information is on the last page.

Because of membership dues and a partnership with the state library, we are able to offer the 2014 conference at last year’s price. Take advantage of this excellent pricing for a day filled with workshops, food, letters from the Writer to Writer Challenge winners, friendship, and more. Sign up today!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: Diane Moseley

Book Giving Day: February 14

Book Giving Day: February 14

A day dedicated to getting new, used and borrowed books in the hands of as many children as possible.

Three simple ways to celebrate International Book Giving Day!

1. Give a Book to a Friend or Relative.

Celebrate International Book Giving Day by giving a child a new, used or borrowed book.

2. Leave a Book in a Waiting Room or Lobby.

Choose a waiting room where kids are stuck waiting and there are few to no good books available. Purchase a good book, and deposit your book covertly or overtly in your waiting room of choice. The goal here is to spread the love of reading to kids, so choose a fun book, nothing controversial.

3. Donate a Book.

Wrap up a box of children’s books that your kids have outgrown and get them in the hands of children who could really use a book or two. Donate your books to your local second hand store, library, children’s hospital, or shelter. Alternatively, donate your books to an organization working internationally to get books in the hands of kids, such as Books for Africa.

How will you celebrate International Book Giving Day?

World Read Aloud Day March 5th :: Reading is like _______ .

World Read Aloud Day

March 5th. 

Fill in the Blank @litworldsays Feb 11

Reading is like ___________. 

#wrad #readeveryday #tlchat #edchat

and Tweet !

According to Pam Allyn, "Reading is like breathing in and writing is like breathing out, and storytelling is what links both: it is the soul of literacy. The most powerful tool that we have to strengthen literacy is often the most underused and overlooked, and that is a child's own stories"

Pam Allyn is a children's rights activist and Executive Director and founder of LitWorld, a global non-profit organization advocating for children’s rights as readers, writers, and learners.

Literacy is the foundation for emotional and physical well-being, intellectual growth, and economic security. The right to read and write is a fundamental human right and belongs to all people.

Worldwide at least 793 million people remain illiterate. Two-thirds of them are women. All over the world, children are hungry for learning and for the power it brings. Research shows that children learn to read and write best by writing and telling the stories of their own experiences. Yet it is rare to find safe spaces where children feel fully comfortable to do so.

CentroLatinoLiteracy ‏@centrolatino Feb 11

. . . says

@litworldsays (For first time adult readers)
reading is like discovering your voice.

KOREH LA ‏@KOREHLA Feb 11

. . . says

Reading is like talking to an old friend.
Always warm, inviting, and easy to pick up where you left off. @litworldsays #readeveryday

California State Library's Grand Reopening: Feb 11-14

Celebrate California State Library's Grand Reopening Week

Feb 11 - 14

California State Library Press Release: 2.04.2014

The California State Library has returned to the newly restored Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building after four years of extensive renovations and we'd like you to come and visit us. The building, a remarkable example of Neo-classical architecture located at 914 Capitol Mall, has been fully restored to its original beauty.

Help us celebrate our move back to this historic building February 11–14, 2014. We have put together a series of special events, exhibits and presentations for this week of celebration. The festivities begin Tuesday, February 11, and continue throughout the week.

We have a series of events that you might want to check out in the Library Meeting Room on the fifth floor. There will also be exhibits in Gillis Hall, the main reading room on the third floor; the Circulation Room also on the third floor; and other locations throughout the library. You can also go on a tour.

Tours will begin Tuesday, February 11, at 11 a.m. and will continue until 3:30 p.m. Beginning Wednesday, February 12, tours will be conducted at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays only. You can schedule a tour online on our website.

The presentations in the Library Meeting Room, Room 500 will be held Wednesday-Friday, February 12-14, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Among the topics presented will be a look at how the government has used comics to get their message out; a fascinating collection of political memorabilia including buttons, ballots and posters; the seemingly incongruous relationship between government documents and love; plus a host of other topics. READ MORE !

Also @ Capradio.og: Listen