In Memoriam :: Roberta Lauderdale Plaque Ceremony Altadena Library

Roberta Lauderdale Plaque Ceremony

January 16 :: 1 pm

Bob Lucas Memorial Branch Library and Literacy Center

Roberta J. Lauderdale was an Altadena Library Volunteer from 1991-1996 and worked as Literacy Coordinator of the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch Library and Literacy Center from 1996-2014. She was a champion for literacy and was a community advocate. Sadly, she passed away in September.

Please join us Friday, 1/16/15 for a plaque ceremony in Roberta's honor at 1:00PM at the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch Library and Literacy Center.

Huntington Beach Library :: Celebrating the New Year Around the World

Celebrating the New Year around the world

Huntington Beach Public Library Literacy Volunteers

OPEN DOORS: Jan 2015

As we drift past the December holidays and move into the New Year, HB Literacy Volunteers is so pleased to bring New Year stories from our learners and tutors.

New Year's Eve in Korea by Jessica S.

People listen to Jeya Bell's sound on TV or radio. Some people go to the place where Jeya Bell is. The bell is hit 33 times at midnight on January 1. The bell is in Bosingak (Buddhist temple) in Seoul.

Usually, a bell is a symbol of defeating the evil and of greeting a happy event, and has been used for a long time to start and end with informing signal.

The meaning of hitting the bell is praying for the health and longevity for the people, and the country's peace. And the meaning of 33 times is that people dream trying to touch the sky (name: 33 sky - people think there are several sky in the sky) which the patron of Buddhism or Korea's initiator lives.

New Year in Apaxtla de Castrejon, Guerrero by Domingo C.

Hello, I want to share part of my life that I lived in my country, Mexico. I am from Guerrero, in the town of Apaxtla de Castrejon.

I remember that in the month of December there were many parties and las posadas that made me feel close to God. Then el nacimiento and the beautiful story of the baby Jesus. All the days we celebrated with dancing. I liked so much meeting with my friends, having sober fun.

On Christmas, the family and friends get together for dinner, and we do the same on the 31st of December to wait for the new year. The older people would tell us when the new year started because they looked at the sky for a light that lit up the whole town, and it made them happy. My aunts said the light was a good sign for the sowing.

These are beautiful memories for me, as well as my memories of parents and brothers and sisters.

Read from more of our learners about new year traditions around the world.

GOVERNOR BROWN INTRODUCES 2015-16 BUDGET :: SLASHES $4 MILLION FROM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS

Governor Cuts Library Programs In Budget 

News From the Capitol: 1.09.2015 by Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist; Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyist

GOVERNOR BROWN INTRODUCES 2015-16 BUDGET:

SLASHES $4 MILLION FROM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS

This morning Governor Brown introduced his 2015-16 State Budget before an assembly of the press corps in the State Capitol in Sacramento.  The Governor’s Budget summary document, released in conjunction with the Budget indicates that “the state budget, after a decade of fiscal turbulence, is finally balanced – more precariously than I would like – but balanced.”  While the Governor’s Budget gives most of any new revenue, gained due to an slowly recovering economy, to K-12 schools, he also proposes new spending in areas of public safety, health and human services, and climate change.  –

However, most disappointing, the Governor slashes $4 million from the State Library Budget – money which was included last year in the Budget to bolster the California Library Services Act, the State Literacy program, and so-called “hardship” grants for those libraries needing to connect to the new high-speed Internet backbone operated by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC).

While this news is understandably disappointing, California library supporters have a history of rising to the occasion, and there is no doubt they will do so again with a valiant fight this Spring on these issues.  In fact, you will be hearing from the CLA Legislative Committee in the coming days as they launch this year’s major advocacy event, “Day In the District.”  Your participation will be critical as CLA begins a concerted effort to restore these funds.

CLA members will recall that last year, Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) fought to include funding in the 2014-15 Budget to help restore money to the California Library Services Act and the state literacy program.  The Assemblyman had met with the library directors, staff and supporters in Burbank in his district, and learned of the impacts the devastating Budget cuts had had on the Transaction Based Reimbursement program and other vital programs.  In working with CLA, Assemblyman Gatto vowed to make partial restoration of public library funds one of his priorities last year.  Along with Assembly Budget Chair, Nancy Skinner and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chair, Al Muratsuchi, the three of them championed the issue, resulting in $3 million in new funding being included in the Budget ultimately sent to the Governor.  We hope that Mr. Gatto and many of our library supporters in the legislature will again lead the effort to restore this funding as the Budget Committees begin their deliberations on the Governor’s Budget this Spring.

Specifically, the Governor’s Budget does the following:

•California Library Services Act:  Makes a $2 million reduction in this line-item. This leaves $1.88 million in the fund. 

•California Library Literacy Services:  Makes a $1 million reduction in this line-item. This leaves $2.8 million in the fund.

•CENIC “Hardship Grants:” Zeroes out the $1 million in “hardship grant” funding but leaves $2.25 million in place to fund the Governor’s broadband plan for libraries (e.g. connecting public libraries to the CENIC high-speed “backbone.”)  READ MORE !

Sub 2 Education Finance

Committee Members

Kevin McCarty (Chair)  Dem – 7

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 2160, Sacramento, CA 94249-0007; (916) 319-2007

Rocky J. Chávez  Rep - 76

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 2170, Sacramento, CA 94249-0076; (916) 319-2076

Young O. Kim  Rep - 65       

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 4177, Sacramento, CA 94249-0065; (916) 319-2065

Patrick O'Donnell  Dem – 70

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 4166, Sacramento, CA 94249-0070; (916) 319-2070

Philip Y. Ting  Dem – 19

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 3123, Sacramento, CA 94249-0019; (916) 319-2019

Senate Standing Committee on Education

Members:

Senator Carol Liu (Chair) (D)

Senator Bob Huff (Vice Chair) (R)

Senator Marty Block (D)

Senator Loni Hancock (D)

Senator Connie M. Leyva (D)

Senator Tony Mendoza (D)

Senator Richard Pan (D)

Senator Andy Vidak (R)

Orange Co Library :: Literacy Blast at Craig Regional Park: Mission Success!

Literacy Blast at Craig Regional Park: Mission Success!

READ Orange County

READ Writes: Fall 2014

Starship “AFPAC” (Annual Family Picnic And Celebration) was a “stellar” success!  After a year-long orbit of Reading and Lifelong Learning that took learners and their tutors on amazing  journeys to galaxies unknown, tutors, learners,  families, “Friends of READ/OC,” and some amazing creatures of intelligent life from another universe landed at Craig Regional Park earlier this summer to celebrate what Earthlings call a “picnic.”

Such a celebration as this has not been seen in this galaxy for many moons of Endor! As always, this year’s annual celebration of literacy efforts in the Orange County galaxy was out of this world due to the amazing imagination of the Mission Control Team (aka Friends of READ/OC) and the many READ-lings and their families who enjoyed a delicious BBQ/picnic fare, played “out of this world” games and celebrated the stellar efforts of tutors and learners expanding their learning horizons and achieving life-changing goals.

Enjoy some “astronomical” AFPAC moments and memories within the pages of this newsletter. Then set your sights on more lifelong learning adventures as we continue celebrating the 30th Anniversary of California Library Literacy Services for adult literacy efforts throughout the state with our dedicated library and literacy colleagues, volunteer tutors, adult learners, and community partners.

Don‟t forget to share this special universal truth about literacy and learning with family, friends,  neighbors & co-workers...learning is a lifelong process and the ability to read, write and understand is one of the most precious resources throughout the universe! Encourage them to volunteer as a READ/OC tutor or seek help to read better…and together, discover a world of wonders through literacy and lifelong learning.  READ MORE !

California Book Festivals & Events :: January 2015

California Book Festivals & Events: January 2015

Books, Comics, Poetry, Storytelling, Writing and More !

Jan 11+ Smithsonian - Journey Stories :: Museum on Main, Pleasanton

Jan 17   Indie AuthorDay :: Los Angeles Public Library, 1p

Jan 21+ Rancho Mirage Writers Festival :: Sold Out

Jan 22   Book'd in Burbank :: Theatre Banshee, 7:30p-9:30p
Jan 30+ LA Art Book Fair :: Geffen Contemporary @ MOCA

Ongoing

Ingenious! The World of Dr. Seuss :: thru Dec 31, 2015, San Diego History Center

California Book Festivals

Los Angeles Literary Calendar

Your one stop for all the most exciting literary events in the LA area

National & International Literacy & Library Events :: January 2015

National & International Literacy & Library Events

January 2015

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- Local, California and National -

visit

the Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

Jan. 5+  Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu HI

Jan. 23   Literacy and Dyslexia: Current Research and Practice, UC San Francisco CA

Jan. 23   National Reading Day

Jan. 23   Rutgers Conference Reading & Writing, Rutgers NJ

Jan. 24   Sensory Friendly Film = PADDINGTON 10a

Jan. 24   Readathon Day
Jan. 26+ Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Elko NV

Jan. 27   Multicultural Children’s Book Day = Global

Jan. 27+ ATIA Conference & Exhibition, Orlando FL

Jan. 27   Family Literacy Day, Canada

Jan. 28+ Literacy and Reading Recovery Conference, Chicago IL
Jan. 28+ Mentoring Summit, Wash DC

Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor, Washington DC thru Jan 19, 2015

Kid Lit Events

Fun children's and young adult literature events from coast to coast!

Children’s Book Council.

Azusa Library :: Grassroots ESL Presented at State Conference

Grassroots ESL Presented at State Conference

Azusa Library

Literacy Update: Nov/Dec 2014

City Librarian Reed Strege and Adult Literacy Coordinator Cathay Reta traveled to Oakland, California to present a session on Azusa’s Grassroots ESL Program at the 2014 California Library Association Conference on November 8.  The session was well-received by approximately 40 library professionals who are interested in meeting the English needs of English Language Learners in their communities.  Attendees were especially interested in the unique community partnership model developed by Grassroots ESL. A few people have already followed up with requests for more information about it.

Another highlight of the presentation was the snapshot of student statistics from the first full year.  From October 2013 to October 2014, 130 students received 3064 hours of instruction from 28 volunteer tutors.  Since the program seeks to not only teach English to non-English speakers, but to also encourage them to practice English outside of tutoring sessions, we also collected information from students regarding how many English-speaking people they know and how often they speak English, along with their education levels and number of years living in the United States.

For more information on our Grassroots ESL Program, visit our YouTube page.