Beaumont Library - Locals Compete in SCLLN "Writer To Writer" Challenge

Locals compete in Southern California Libraries “Writer to Writer” contest

Record Gazette: 3.21.2014 by Julie Farren

Beaumont residents Blanca Flores and Amatul Mohiuddin are very proud of being first runners-up in the Southern California Libraries “Writer to Writer’’ contest.

Both women are in the Adult Literacy Program at the Beaumont Library and are being individually tutored on their writing and reading skills.

They entered the contest in December 2013 under the guidance of Lucy Sims, adult literacy program manager at the Beaumont Library.

Flores, 45, and Mohiuddin, who did not want her age disclosed, were among 47 entrants in the contest, which featured Southern California residents.

They learned in February that they were winners. Flores and Mohiuddin attended the main event with Sims on March 8 in Buena Park.

The categories include: Emerging, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Writers.

Flores, from Mexico, has been in the Adult Literacy program for five years, Mohiuddin, from India, for three years.

This is Flores’ second year entering the contest, but the first for Mohiuddin.

Flores chose to write an essay on the book “Skinny,’’ which addresses the issue of weight and teen-age girls. In her essay, Flores spoke about trying to understand her daughter’s feelings about her weight.

“You have to be touched by the book before you write about it,” said Flores, runner- up in the Advanced Writers category. Flores is married with two children, ages 10 and 9. She moved to the United States in 1996.

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Mohiuddin, runner up in the Beginners category, wrote an essay based on the book, “A Thousand Splendid Suns,’’ which tells the story of three Afghanistan women – Miriam, Laila and Aziza, who are in different stages of their lives. But what they have in common is not enough freedom or a lot of education.

Reading about these women opened up Mohiuddin’s eyes about living in America. Mohiuddin, who is married and has three children ages 12, 9, and 6, moved to the United States in 1995.  READ MORE !

"Libraries are Beautiful - Inside and Out" National Library Week Photo Contest

"Libraries are Beautiful - Inside and Out"
National Library Week Photo Contest

Gale Celebrates Upcoming National Library Week with "Libraries are Beautiful!" Photo Contest
PR Newswire: 3.19.2014

In celebration of National Library Week April 13-19, Gale, part of Cengage Learning and a leading publisher of research and education resources for libraries, schools and businesses, is calling all library lovers to show how their library makes their community a more beautiful place-physically or metaphorically.

1: Submit a high resolution digital photo and 250 word write-up at Cengage

2: All U.S. libraries can be nominated to win.

Nominations can be submitted by library staff, friends and users.

3: Submissions will be accepted March 19 - 28.
Winners will be announced during National Library Week in April.

To enter, library staff, students or patrons need only to submit a picture of the nominated library along with a short write-up for any of the 5 award categories. One "Best of Category" winner will be selected per category and will receive $500. One grand prize winner will be awarded "Best in Show" and take home $2,500. Categories include:
. Most Unique Structure/Art Installation: Is there a particular piece of art or sculpture that's always a topic of conversation at your library? Then please, show and tell. 
. Greatest Historical Treasure: Whether it's your building itself or something within your collections, share its story and historical significance.
. Most Modern Architecture: There is nothing wrong with tradition but show off your twenty-first century look.
. Coolest Internal Space: From a whimsical children's space to a hip teen area, tech hub or academic retreat, show why students and patrons are flocking to enter and reluctant to leave.
. Best Curb Appeal: Show us what your library looks like from the road and why it's making people stop in their tracks.

Cengage Learning is a leading educational content, software and services company, empowering educators and driving learner engagement through personalized services and course-driven digital solutions that bridge from the library to the classroom. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world's information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet.

Support Library Funding: Contact your U.S. Senators and Reps Today

Support Library Funding

Contact your U.S. Senators and Reps Today

District Dispatch: 3.19.2014 by Jeffrey Kratz

Please contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives 

by going to the Legislative Action Center and urge them to support funding in FY 2015 for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL).

There are currently two letters circulating in the House of Representatives and the Senate. One letter (a letter in the House and a in the Senate) is asking for support of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the FY 2015 Appropriations bill. The other letter (a letter in the House and a in the Senate) is asking for support for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program also in the FY 2015 Appropriations bill. To find out if your legislators have signed one of the letters this year, view this chart (pdf). If not please contact him/her and encourage them to do so. If your Senator or Representative has signed one of these letters, please thank him/her for their support of libraries.

Read below for some background information on LSTA and IAL.

LSTA

Is the primary source of annual funding for libraries in the federal budget.  The bulk of this program is a population-based grant funded to each state through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Each state determines how they will allocate their LSTA funds, often relying upon this money to provide job searching databases, resume workshops, summer reading projects, and so much more. In addition, LSTA also supports:

•Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services to support improved access to library services for Native Americans, Alaska Native Villages, and Native Hawaiians

•National Leadership Grants to support activities of national significance that enhances the quality of library services nationwide and provide coordination between libraries and museums

•Laura Bush 21st Century Librarians which is used to help develop and promote the next generation of librarians.

IAL

From 2002 to 2010, the Improving Literacy through School Libraries program had been the primary source of federal funding for school libraries. However, in recent years the President and U.S. Congress have consolidated or zero-funded this program. ALA gives a special thanks to Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) who recognized that school libraries need a direct funding source in the federal budget. In FY 2012, through report language in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill, the two redirected money to the U.S. Department of Education to create the IAL program.

With Improving Literacy through School Libraries being defunded, IAL has taken over as the primary source of federal funding for school libraries.  Focusing on low income schools, these funds help many schools bring their school libraries up to standards. This money is not enough to help every school library, but it does help some with updating materials and equipment, allowing children from disadvantaged areas to have opportunities to become college and career ready.

World Storytelling Day: March 20

World Storytelling Day: March 20

World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn equinox in the southern. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night. Participants tell each other about their events in order to share stories and inspiration, to learn from each other and create international contacts.

If you are on Twitter, tweet about 2014 events with the #WSD14 hashtag!

Each year, many of the individual storytelling events that take place around the globe are linked by a common theme. Each year, the theme is identified by and agreed upon by storytellers from around the world on the worldstorytellingday listserv.

•2014 - Monsters and Dragons
•2015 - Wishes

Literacy Library Jobs - California: Los Angeles Public, Menlo Park

Literacy Jobs: California

Literacy Center Coordinator - PT

LAPL: Pio-Pico-Koreatown Branch

Recruit, interview, mentor and guide learners and tutors.

DEADLINE: March 24

Literacy/Library Asst I - FT

Menlo Park Library

literacy support position will match tutors with students. Organize, distribute and keep records of books and materials.

DEADLINE: March 24

Los Angeles Public Library: It's A Match

It’s A Match

LAPL READ Newsletter:
Winter 2014



Cai’s Story by Learner, Cai Zhou

I urgently wanted to speak and write in English well in order to have better life in the United States. I have tried many ways to learn English since I immigrated to here from China in 2004. My English skill was not enough to have a job in a medical field. Especially communication with people in English made me feel down. I was disappointed with my broken English. How could I work out my problems I asked myself? I needed to get help. I went to Lincoln Heights Public Library in my neighborhood where I often go to read or borrow the books.

One day, I saw a thoughtful middle aged woman explaining something in a low voice to a foreign person like a teacher to a student. I walked quietly and asked curiously: “Are you teaching English?” Could I have a chance to learn from you?” The tutor said that the Adult Literacy program can help; she introduced Kathy Hall to me. I told her I needed to improve my English urgently. Then I did a pretest. She put me on a waiting list of Adult Literacy Program to have an English tutor.  READ MORE !

Megan’s Story by Tutor, Megan Duquette

Fortunate enough to have a father who instilled the value and importance of volunteerism in me early in life, one of the first things I sought out when I moved from Illinois to Los Angeles was volunteer opportunities. Finding the Adult Literacy Program was such a blessing, as is my student, Cai Zhou. My first meeting with Cai was on a beautiful fall day in 2011 in the garden outside of Union Station.

Having no previous experience teaching English to an adult learner, I was uncertain how our lessons would go. However, Cai’s willingness to learn, enthusiasm, and attentiveness quickly calmed my fears. Cai is committed to improving her patient care as a nurse through honing her English skills. We are both very busy and it takes a lot of puzzle piecing to get our schedules to align so that we can meet each week, but her dedication and warmth make it easy for me to stay committed and energized throughout our lessons.  READ MORE !

Los Angeles Public #Library @LAPublicLibrary

IMLS Finalist Share Your Story @ LAPL

Newport Beach Library: OASIS Graduating Class

An OASIS of Volunteer Tutors
Newport/Mesa ProLiteracy,
Literally Speaking: Mar/Apr 2014

OASIS—WINTER 2014 Congratulations to our first OASIS graduating class!

Late last year, Literacy Coordinator, Cherall Weiss, visited the OASIS Senior Center and gave a brief presentation at one of their monthly meetings to recruit new volunteer tutors.  The response was extremely positive and led to a new relationship between NMPL and OASIS. For the first time, both a Tutor Orientation and Tutor Training series were held at the Center.

As a result, we have eight new tutors who are committed to the program. The venue has also been opened up as an alternate location for our tutor-learner pairs to meet for weekly sessions. We are hoping to offer an OASIS Tutor Orientation and Tutor Training session at least two times a year. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with OASIS members!