Los Angeles Public Library : : New Literacy Initiatives

New Literacy Initiatives

READ – LAPL Adult Literacy Services: Summer 2015

A newsletter written by students and tutors. Changing lives one chapter at a time.

This year Adult Literacy Services is inaugurating several new initiatives that are free to library patrons.

The first of these is Leamos, a web-based curriculum designed by Centro Latino for Literacy that teaches non-literate Spanish-speaking adults how to read and write in Spanish.

The second is Cell-Ed, which allows students to learn English anywhere, anytime, using their cell phone. This program is best for those with unlimited phone minutes and texting.

For more information about enrolling please call (213) 228-7037.

ACHIEVEMENTS

~Maricelia B passed the Driver’s Test and learned to use the internet to study as well. She is a happy camper.

~Yuni C is happy about improving her vocabulary.

~Marleny M took and passed on the first try the written and road driving test to obtain a California Driver’s License.  She was so proud!

~Afsi N passed the citizenship test and also finished Challenger 8...all eight Challenger books done!

~Gaby O passed all her High School Equivalency Tests (HISet) and graduated from Evans Adult School in May.  She will be attending Pasadena City College in the fall!

~Kevin S feels more confident about speaking on the phone and in-person, which is one of his main goals.

~Tatiana Y has been getting positive feedback on her improved conversational English and she is very happy about that.

READ MORE !

Altadena Library : : Lucio Martinez, an Adult Literacy Success Story!

Branch Notes:  Lucio Martinez, an Adult Literacy Success Story!

Know It All! Altadena Library Newsletter: August 2015

July was life-changing for literacy learner Lucio Martinez.  Lucio decided to open his own appliance repair business. A decision like this requires a lot of planning, training and motivation. The challenge is greater if you need English literacy skills to read repair manuals and forms. Lucio’s daughter visited the library and learned about the ESL program; she promptly shared the information with her father. Since beginning English classes, he has improved his reading, writing, speaking and listening.

In preparation for starting his new business, Lucio has also learned to download and read appliance repair manuals on the Internet, to watch training videos, and how to create his own business cards and advertisements. He even ordered custom shirts online for his new business.

Lucio attributes some of his achievements and his goals to the library’s staff and the program. “All of the staff have helped me, since they are good people. This has helped me 1,000%!”

For more information about the literacy program, please drop by the Bob Lucas Branch Library on Lincoln or call (626) 798-8338. Edward William, Literacy Coordinator

September is Library Card Sign-up Month!

Don’t forget to get

the most important school supply of all!

Join Snoopy, Honorary Chair

of Library Card Sign-up Month,

at the library and get your very own card.

Redlands Library : : Adult Literacy Program holds its first Family Literacy Event

Redlands Adult Literacy Program holds its first Family Literacy Event

Redlands Daily Facts: 8.15.2015 by Dottie Podolak, coordinator Redlands Adult Literacy Program

Many adult learners ask for help with their reading because they want to help their children read. With this in mind, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program held its first Family Literacy Event July 14 in Assembly Room of the A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Thirty parents and children attended the event.

Karen Duns, a local school librarian, talked to the group about the benefits of reading out loud to children.

Duns discussed key aspects for parents to consider when reading to children. These included focusing on the pictures and text to learn new vocabulary and build reading comprehension.

She also said that, when reading to children, parents should take the time to interact with the story by making predictions and pointing to words from left to right.

She said that if parents ask questions when reading, children are better able to focus and remember key parts of the book such as characters, plot and the main idea.

Duns stressed the importance of having books available in the home and highlighted books from the A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Young Readers’ Room as recommended reading for various age groups.

One of the highlights of the event was when Duns demonstrated how to read a book aloud to children.  READ MORE !

Azusa Library - Centro Latino for Literacy :: Azusa library offers literacy program in Spanish

No solo ofrecen libros, también enseñan a leer

Biblioteca de Azusa ofrece programa de alfabetización en español

Not only offer books also they teach reading

Azusa library offers literacy program in Spanish

LaRaza: 8.02.2015 by Marvelia Alpizar

Many immigrants who come to this country have the desire to learn English faster to adapt to society.  However, those who never learned to read and write in their first language find it difficult to learn a second language.

It is one of the reasons why the city library is offering Azusa literacy programs to people who speak Spanish and want to learn to read and write in that language or strengthen those skills.

Cathay Reta, program coordinator Adult Literacy Library Azusa, said that about 11.6 percent of Spanish-speaking immigrants in Los Angeles County can not read or write in Spanish or do not master this skill properly.

"When people attend ESL (English as a Second Language) and can not read or write in Spanish, not find ways to keep pace with the rest of the class, and drop the course," Reta said, who has It was also a teacher of adult literacy for approximately thirty years and has observed this phenomenon in community centers where he worked. READ MORE !

Literacy Library Jobs – California :: Ventura Co - Salinas - SF

Literacy Jobs – California

general and clerical duties, including those related to literacy Services for the Library and Community Services Department, with a strong emphasis on providing public service.

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Redlands Library : : Gunning for Extra Funding for its Adult Literacy Program

Smiley Public Library gunning for extra funding for its Adult Literacy program

Redlands Daily Facts: 8.06.2015 by Kristina Hernandez

The A.K. Smiley Public Library is planning to submit an application to receive additional funding from the state for its adult literacy program.

Officials from the State Library announced an investment of $2 million toward the program that provides one-on-one tutoring at libraries across the state to those looking to improve reading skills. Libraries, including Smiley, have until Aug. 14 to submit an application, according to a news release.

“Basically any money that we get from this grant is to enhance the program we have and run it more efficiently and enhance the existing program,” said Daniel Slota, a principal librarian and head of adult services at Smiley.

The amount of funding available to selected applicants was not announced in the release. However, more than 250,000 people have been helped by the program throughout the state. Federal statistics say there are 4 million Californians with low literacy skills, the release said.

Currently, there are 80 “literacy pairs” at Smiley composed of a literacy volunteer and learner, Slota said.

“The extra money will help us do better. We have one part-time literacy coordinator that is essentially running the program with the help of many volunteers.  READ MORE !

Huntington Beach Library : : "Learning and Growing Together" 2015 Literacy Volunteers

"Learning and Growing Together"

2015 Literacy Volunteers-HBPL Annual Meeting & Awards Night

OPEN DOORS: July 2015

On June 25, 2015, Literacy Volunteers-HBPL held its annual awards event. It was a time to gather and celebrate the achievements of the learners and the volunteers who all work so hard throughout the year.

The evening air was filled with the sounds of excited attendees, accompanied by beautiful paper floral displays, refreshments, succulent center pieces, a photo pictorial running on a TV, a gardening book raffle and a delightful make-a-floral-pen activity, led by Karen Topolewski.

Audrey Richards, President; Susan Hodge, Vice President; and Diane Moseley, Program Coordinator co-emceed and guided attendees through the fun events and announcements of the evening.

Learners Walaa Abelnour, Gladys Juy, Rachel Li and Alicia Zhou were recognized with Adult Learner Awards for Excellence, and Nancy Wu, Max Shih & Wendy L. for obtaining their citizenship. Tutors received pins acknowledging their landmark years (5, 20, 15 and 20!) of service.

New and returning board members were announced and voted on, while outgoing board members were acknowledged and thanked for their years of service.

Special thanks for the dedicated work of the committee and all those who helped to create such a beautiful and lively event for everyone to enjoy!

In 1984, the Literacy Volunteers-HBPL was founded by Linda D. Light. 31 years later, the program flourishes and learners and tutors continue to work tirelessly, enriching each other and the community as a whole, by learning from each other and growing together.