California Library Literacy Services Annual Report :: 2014-15

Report to the Legislature on the California Library Literacy & English Acquisition Services Program: 2014-15

California State Library California Library Literacy Services: July 2016

Executive Summary

Adult Learner Outcomes

Several million adults in California are unable to fully participate in the social, political and economic life of our state because they cannot read or write English. Improved literacy skills open the door to better employment opportunities, self-education, and the joys of reading.

For the past 30 years, the state has helped open that door for nearly a quarter of a million adult learners through the California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) program. CLLS supports Californians by providing services to low-literacy adults and their families through California public libraries.

In addition to helping adults learn to read and write, literacy programs are providing assistance with other necessary life skill needs by teaching digital and health literacy, delivering job skill training, and helping adults obtain their high school diplomas and U.S. citizenship. CLLS programs provide a gateway to success for many in their communities.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, 18,388 adult Californians participating in CLLS improved their reading skills with the help of close to 10,000 volunteers.

Gov. Brown added $1 million in one-time funds in fiscal year 2014/2015, enabling a baseline increase of 50% to each local program. Gov. Brown then restored $2 million to the program in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, demonstrating the priority this state puts on an informed and educated California.

The total number of locations providing services in fiscal year 2014/15 is 805, and that number will grow in 2015/2016 due to the increase in committed state funding and the ability to add new programs for the first time in four years.

Literacy services provide an excellent return on investment, as participating programs contribute local funds to support literacy effects – in fiscal year local contributions totaled $16,846,187, ($4.41 for each state dollar spent).  READ MORE >>

Literacy Library Jobs – California :: Merced :: Huntington Beach :: Calaveras :: Placer

Literacy Library Jobs – California

Literacy Coordinator - FT

Merced County Library

Recruit and train new volunteer tutors

Establish and evaluate procedures to meet the Literacy Program objectives

DEADLINE: OPEN

Library Specialist-Library Assistant II Library Literacy Services - PT

Placer County Library

Recruit, enroll, and support tutors and learners of all ages . . .

Deadline: Nov 16

Literacy Community Liaison - PT

Calaveras County Public Library

will oversee literacy instruction at the Calaveras County detention center (Jail) and will work closely with incarcerated individuals.

DEADLINE: OPEN

Library Literacy Services Aide - PT

Huntington Beach Library

Staffs the literacy office, Answers phones and responds to Literacy's email, Assists literacy volunteers and adult literacy students

DEADLINE: OPEN

BayNet Library and Information Network

CalOpps

Library Jobs in California

UCLA Department of Information Studies

San Diego Public Library :: READ/San Diego :: 2017 Tutor Conference

READ/San Diego 2017 Tutor Conference

READ/San Diego: 6.27.2017

Keynote featuring Stephen Krashen

READ/San Diego - Adult and Family Literacy Services

READ/San Diego is a free literacy instruction service for adults 18 years and older. This award winning program has become a model for the country. It is staffed with literacy professionals, who work with community organizations and coordinate the efforts of volunteer reading tutors to teach adults to read and write, and improve literacy in San Diego.

At any given time, there are up to 150 people on a waiting list to take advantage of this free literacy program. Helping someone learn to read is giving them the gift of knowledge with the power to change their entire world! Your volunteerism can help change lives!  READ MORE >>

Escondido Library :: Private Equity Firm Acquires Rita’s Italian Ice, Now Eying California Public Library

Private Equity Firm Acquires Rita’s Italian Ice, Now Eying California Public Library

Huffington Post: 9.14.2017 by Donald Cohen

January. The outskirts of Philadelphia. 23 degrees. It’s hard to imagine anyone buying Rita’s Italian ice.

But Argosy did just that earlier this year.

Specializing in acquiring companies, cutting costs, and selling them for a profit, the Pennsylvania-based private equity firm added the frozen dessert chain Rita’s to its portfolio of investments, which includes a prison phone company and a handful of Pizza Hut franchises, among others.

And now they’re eyeing the library in Escondido, California. That’s right, a public library.

Well, not exactly. Argosy owns Library Systems & Services (LS&S), the country’s largest library management company, which is trying to sell its services to the small city north of San Diego. LS&S is using the same rap—that privatization saves taxpayer money by bringing “optimization” and “efficiency”—that it’s used to gobble up 83 libraries across the country.

While the Escondido City Council seems to have bought in—they voted last month to outsource to LS&S but have yet to sign the contract—taxpayers aren’t having it. The library’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously against privatization and thousands of residents have signed a petition to keep the library public.

Even the American Library Association has weighed in, writing that after privatization the “community will not know how its taxpayer dollars are being spent.”  READ MORE >>

Library Outsourcing Vote Is An Outrage :: Escondido Public Library

Ventura Co Library :: New Library Director Named for Ventura County System

New library director named for Ventura County system

VC Star: 11.15.2017 by Kathleen Wilson

A new director for the Ventura County library system has been appointed.

Nancy Schram, 48, succeeds Jackie Griffin, who has decided to retire in mid-December. Schram, who is Griffin’s top deputy, was selected after a nationwide search.

She was approved Tuesday in a unanimous vote by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

Schram joined the library system as deputy director last year after nine years as the Thousand Oaks library deputy director. She previously worked for the Los Angeles County library system and holds a master’s degree in library and information science.

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In her new job, Schram plans to stress services tied directly to the library system’s mission of education, literacy and lifelong learning. She wants to find innovative ways to deliver those services, expand them and ensure equal access to libraries.

Also on her list is streamlining operations to ensure the best use of funds and resources.

Schram is credited with implementing the advanced technology for the Hill Road library, initiating a training academy for library staff and starting a program to work with homeless patrons at the E.P. Foster Library in Ventura.  READ MORE >>

The READ Program trains volunteers to provide free one-to-one reading and writing instruction.

The Ventura County Library has been offering this program since 1984.

Become a volunteer

Display a READ Program poster at work

Include READ Program information in your office or church newsletter.

Invite READ Program staff to speak at your meetings.

For more information about how you can support literacy and make a difference in someone's life, call (805) 677-7160.

Redlands Library :: Why is the Redlands Adult Literacy Program Important?

Why is the Redlands Adult Literacy Program Important?

Here’s What Some Donors Say

Redlands Daily Facts: 11.11.2017 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator-A.K. Smiley Library

As we enter into this season of Thanksgiving, those involved with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program wish to express their gratitude to the Redlands community, which supports the program’s mission to help adults improve their reading and writing.

We contacted donors, some of whom also volunteer as tutors, to hear the reasons they thought adult literacy was a core service of the A.K. Smiley Public Library and how it benefited the community. We would like to share some of their responses, as they reflect the importance of adult literacy.

Redlands Mayor Pro Tem Paul Barich said he supports the adult literacy program because he believes “a city that has people who can read is a city that is prepared to make better decisions.”

Robert Dawes, the city’s treasurer, said, “In an age of greed and selfishness, the A.K Smiley Public Library’s adult literacy program stands as an enduring monument to the values of cooperation and sharing. Volunteers with nothing to gain but the satisfaction of helping people in need demonstrate astonishing selfless service. That’s why I donate to the adult literacy program.

“We are so lucky to live in Redlands and have both a great library and an adult literacy program that helps open the doors of the library to every citizen,” Dawes said. “The library is Albert Smiley’s gift to our town, and the adult literacy program is a way for Redlands citizens to prove ourselves worthy of Albert’s gift.”

Kate Pretorius, A.K. Smiley Public Library trustee, said, “We all need help from others at different times in our lives. The potential learners … are people who are taking the initiative in improving their lives and I want to encourage that in any way that I can.  READ MORE >>

To learn more, join us at the next Tutor Orientation, on January 29, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the A. K. Smiley Public Library Assembly Room. Please call the Redlands Adult Literacy Program office at 909.798.7565, ext. 4138

Ventura Co Library :: Trivia Challenge Literacy FUNdraiser :: Nov 15

29th Annual Trivia Challenge

READ Ventura County Library

Adult Literacy Program

November 15, 6 pm 

Wedgewood Banquet Center

5880 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura

Are you a trivia whiz?

How smart are you?

Find out at the annual Trivia Challenge

Sponsored by Rotary Club of Ventura-South

Tickets may be purchased at the door for $10.00

There will be appetizers, a no-host bar and an opportunity drawing

Entry form and team information

Proceeds benefit READ Ventura County Library - Adult Literacy Program

Sign up, sponsor a team or just come to watch

Donations for our youth teams are very welcome

The READ Program trains volunteers to provide free one-to-one reading and writing instruction.

The Ventura County Library has been offering this program since 1984.

Our administrative costs are included in the Ventura County Library's budget.

Additional funding comes from partnerships with other agencies, state grants and donations from businesses and service organizations.

Tutoring Sites

Instruction takes place in library, school, community and jail facilities throughout Ventura County.

These sites are managed by part-time professional educators, referred to as site supervisors.

Site supervisors are available during specified times to assess learner's reading levels, interview tutors, match students with tutors, recommend teaching materials and provide support for learning partners.

For more information about how you can support literacy and make a difference in someone's life, call (805) 677-7160.