Friday, July 22, 2016

Riverside County Library :: For many Inland residents, illiteracy remains a daily struggle, but libraries and others are trying to help.

For many Inland residents, illiteracy remains a daily struggle, but libraries and others are trying to help.
Press Enterprise: 6.10.2016 by Patrick O’Neill

Maria Luz Colchado stared at a computer in Jurupa Valley's Louis Robidoux Library, a pair of padded headphones on her head, listening to an energetic, Spanish-speaking man describe how the program would lead to a better grasp of reading and writing in her native tongue.

Colchado, 56, paused to discuss her path to Riverside County's Literacy Lab.

"I went to school in Michoacan, Mexico, until I was in second grade, then I had to work," Colchado said.

Colchado left school when her father died. By 9, she was cleaning homes and baby-sitting for neighbors to support her family. Dropping out of school was common, "a thing we did to help out," she said.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Redlands Library :: Redlands Adult Literacy Program launches its first book club

Redlands Adult Literacy Program launches its first book club
Redlands Daily Facts: 6.25.2016 by Diane Shimota

Do you belong to a book club? Many of us enjoy the thrill of discussing a great book with fellow readers.

Using funding from generous donors, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program has launched its first book club tailored to adult learners. The inaugural book is the inspiring story “Who was Helen Keller?” by Gare Thompson.

Book club members are adult learners who have chosen to attend the Adult Literacy Summer Program, which had its first meeting June. The summer program runs through July and invites learners and tutors to meet weekly at the library so that learners can continue to work on their reading and writing skills when summer vacations can interrupt weekly tutoring meetings.

Adult learner Ana Alcantar recommended the book about Helen Keller, saying, “Helen Keller is a wonderful role model for everyone, but for adult learners in particular. Because of her determination and strength of spirit, Helen Keller overcame the obstacles of being both deaf and blind.

“She learned to read, write and speak. She also became a successful author. Helen Keller showed how to live a successful life in spite of her disabilities. Her story is a wonderful example of how all of us can overcome significant obstacles in life,” Alcantar said.

“Not being able to read or write is a significant obstacle that we work to overcome in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program,” she said.

Perhaps you know someone who struggles to improve his or her reading and writing. Studies show that 20 percent of the U.S. adult population has difficulties with reading and writing.  READ MORE @

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Book Deserts :: NYU | Unite4Literacy | Soar With Reading | Jet Blue | Public Libraries

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Superlatives from SCLLN

The children who grow up in 'book deserts'






Book vending machines to serve kids
in "book deserts" in Detroit:
Today in Critical Linking:




Can you imagine growing up without books?
The travesty of book deserts http://bit.ly/1E6C13T 




@UICLiteracy featured in
story on literacy deserts








@UIC_CollegeofEd 21 Jul 2015

#Publiclibraries are the anchor institutions in and around book deserts.
Zoom to your community.

@Unite4Literacy 27 Apr 2015

Friday, July 15, 2016

Corona Library :: For many Inland residents, illiteracy remains a daily struggle, but libraries and others are trying to help.

For many Inland residents, illiteracy remains a daily struggle, but libraries and others are trying to help.
Press Enterprise: 6.10.2016 by Patrick O’Neill

For the first 80 years of her life, the sentence you are reading would have been nothing more than indecipherable symbols to Eleanor Miller.

Born in 1932 to young, adventurous and largely absent parents, Miller was raised by her blind grandmother in a small Pasadena home. Her family never noticed she couldn't read, and teachers passed her "because I never gave them any trouble," Miller said during a reading lesson at the Corona Public Library.

Now 84, the neatly dressed mother of seven sat, hands folded in her lap, recalling the difficulties of a life void of the written word. Like the time her son needed a doctor's note for school. Miller told him to write it up himself, then copied the letters on a separate sheet.

"People that can't read or write, they memorize stuff to continue this illusion," Miller said. "You avoid situations where you can't fake it."

Twenty percent of Inland residents older than 16 can't comprehend basic texts. That 2003 figure, the most current available, had more than doubled since 1992, National Center for Educational Statistics data show.  READ MORE @

Thursday, July 14, 2016

How Big Is Your Vocabulary? :: Today in Critical Linking
BookRiot: 7.13.2016 by Jeff O’Neal

Ever wonder about your vocabulary size? Even if you are a daily English speaker or a native English speaker, you still might find this test challenging! We conducted academic research and looked at online resources to design the model of this quiz. We believe we’ve prepared the best quiz for you!

How big is your vocabulary? This quiz says it can tell you. (@A Real Me )


Monday, July 11, 2016

Newport Beach Library :: Gift of Literacy Luncheon

Gift of Literacy Luncheon
6.15.2016

Great time at the Gift of Literacy luncheon.
Check out the happy faces.
Thank you Gregg Hurwitz for helping to make this day so successful.


The 9th annual Gift of Literacy luncheon with Gregg Hurwitz was a HUGE success.

Thanks to all who helped make the day special; The amazing committee, Gregg Hurwitz, who regaled all with such wonderful stories, the many local businesses who supported the cause and all who attended in support of Literacy Services.

The learners are the true winners by knowing there is such community support working for their success.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

#onemillionreaders | CLA | Summer Reading | Adult Learners | Children | Teenagers | Literacy

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Superlatives from SCLLN

Our Commission Chair Robert Weisenmiller is jumping in on the #ReadingChallenge!

Finished another book. Must be the leader, right? #readingchallenge #onemillionreaders


Chief Service Officer Karen Baker just finished reading the boook
“One Thousand White Women"!


#onemillionreaders challenge.


California Library Association aims for 1 million readers this summer! http://buff.ly/1YsibwZ


CABoard of Education Retweeted CA State Library
Read a good book lately?
@CAStateLibrary wants to know about it!
Join the #onemillionreaders challenge @CADeptEd


during the California Summer Reading Challenge: http://calchallenge.org/ 


CA's 1,100 libraries are doing the Summer Reading Challenge.
Want a million readers thru 8/31. http://calchallenge.org/