Thursday, September 11, 2008

In Memoriam :: Mary Miller 1955-2008 Glendale Library

Mary Louise Miller 1955 - 2008

Legacy: 2008

Mary Miller, the Library’s Literacy Coordinator passed away this Saturday after a relatively short battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, two daughters and six beloved grandchildren. A service is planned for Sunday in Victorville.

Mary came to Glendale in 1996 from the San Bernardino County Library. Under Mary’s leadership the Glendale Library Literacy program grew and served the needs of our changing community. She started a Family Reading Program that targeted adult literacy learners with small children.

She helped develop literacy partnerships with local public schools, and businesses such as hospitals, restaurants and convalescent homes. Wherever Mary found a need for adult literacy she found a way for the Library to help.

Mary’s reach went beyond the Library. She was a GCEA Representative who was an active participant for Relay for Life and the Community Alliance Committee. She was a past president of the Glendale Community Coordinating Council. She also served on the Executive Board of the Workforce Investment Board and chaired its Resource Mapping Committee.

Mary was active in the State Library’s California Library Literacy Services organization as well as the Southern California Library Literacy Network. She was recognized as a top “trainer of trainers” in her field, and in 2004, she was the only literacy professional selected from Los Angeles County as a MEDALS Fellow, funded by the S. Mark Taper Foundation.


In this program Mary traveled around the United States observing innovative literacy programs. As a result of that experience she developed workshops for many California literacy providers and incorporated innovative ideas into the Glendale Library program.


The benefits of Mary’s hard work are easy to see in the numbers of volunteers and students that participate in the Literacy program. There are many success stories of Mary’s Literacy program changing lives by giving people the ability to read.read.


Mary will be dearly missed by her family, by Library and City staff, and by the Glendale community who came to know her as a fun-loving, energetic, and passionate leader for literacy, reading and the Library.


In Lieu of Flowers


The family has asked that donations be made to the Glendale Public Library Literacy Program. Checks payable to the Friends of the Glendale Public Library. Donations should indicate that they are intended for the Mary Miller Literacy Fund.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Save Literacy - Breaking News !

We have clarified
that funding is slated for
ELIMINATION
not suspension.


On the Eve of September 8
International Literacy Day

P l e a s e
get the word out !

Statistics for SCLLN member Library Literacy programs for 2007. SCLLN member libraries server a population of over
22 million including 5.8 million children.

Adult Literacy Services
9,117 – Adult Learners
5,332 – Volunteer Tutors
338,553 – Hours of Instruction
Families For Literacy
20,767 – Children under 5
24,606 – Children over 5
93,189 – Free Books given to Children

2005-06 Statistics @

California Library Literacy Services Funding

Save

Literacy !






Senate Republicans have proposed the SUSPENSION of California Library Literacy Services funding in the current budget stalemate !

These are the funds local libraries receive each year from the State Library in support of FREE library literacy programs ! CLLS 2007 Report to Legislature.

We need to respond in a big way to best make sure the concerns of the Literacy and Library community are heard loud and strong and that misconceptions on behalf of some legislators are addressed.

Please begin writing letters, faxing and making phone calls. Timing is certainly a key factor ! Your attention and active participation is crucial. This is a very serious threat.

Tomorrow the California Library Association Legislative Committee will meet. The suspension of Literacy Funding will surely be a focal point of the meeting. CLLS funding is truly a state and local partnership.

Why California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Are Important to Save: Education Code 4.6 California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program 18880-18884

This FREE critical service helps English-speaking adults improve their reading and writing skills so they can reach their potential as workers, parents, community members and life-long learners. California Library Literacy Services is designed as a volunteer based one-to-one tutoring service to meet the specific needs of each adult learner in a safe, comfortable and confidential library setting.

It is not an ESL program !

State funds are successfully leveraged locally generating over $15 million additional dollars to assist in providing these services. This $15 million would not be available without the state funding.

Adult learners in these library literacy programs were able to meet goals that improved their employment prospects, allowed them to pay their bills, vote, and read to their children for the first time.

Annually over 10,000 volunteers serve as tutors of adult learners and provide over 750,000 hours of volunteer time. Using EDD's average California hourly wage
figure for 2007 of $21.78, that's a total of over $16 million contributed in volunteer time.

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor - State of California
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814
The Honorable Don Perata
Senate President pro Tempore
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814
Tel: (916) 651-4009 - Fax: (916) 327-1997

The Honorable Dave Cogdill
Senate Republican Leader
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814
Tel: (916) 651-4010 - Fax: (916) 327-3523

The Honorable Karen Bass
Speaker of the California Assembly
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814
Tel: (916) 319-2047 - Fax: (916) 319-2147

The Honorable Mike Villines
Assembly Republican Leader
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814
Tel: (916) 319-2029 - Fax: (916) 319-2129

Note: When you send your letters, will you please CC: the following two individuals who have been strong supporters for these library programs:
Assemblyman John Laird
Chair Assembly Budget Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814
Tel: (916) 319-2027 - Fax: (916) 319-2127

Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny
Chair Senate Budget Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814
Tel: (916) 651-4040 - Fax: (916) 327-3522

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Orange Co Library - READ/OC 14th Annual Family Picnic and Appreciation Celebration

READ/OC 14th Annual Family Picnic and Appreciation Celebration: Sep 6

Get ready for the Round Up!

We're rounding everybody up for the READ/OC 14th Annual Family Picnic and Appreciation Celebration (AFPAC) on Saturday, September 6, 2008. It's sure to be a "Hoot and a Holler" for everyone.

We are going to be rustling up some good ole Barbeque in addition to lots of fun and games.

So mark your calendar and come on out for some fun, Western style! We'd love to have you join us!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Newport Beach Library - Annual Celebration of Literacy


Annual Celebration of Literacy

September 4, 2008 at 10:00 am
Newport Beach Central Library
1000 Avocado Ave
Newport Beach, CA

To celebrate International Literacy Day - September 8

A celebration of our learners, tutors and volunteers and
the presentation of the Rochelle Hoffman Memorial Award.

Refreshments to be served.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

SCLLN Tutor Workshop Calendar: September 2008

Southern California Library Literacy Network
Tutor Workshops & Fundraisers: Sep 2008
- visit SCLLN Calendar for more info -

Sep 2 - 6:30 pm
Tutor Orientation
Pasadena Public Library
La Pintoresca Branch - 1355 N Raymond


Sep 3 - 5:30 pm
Tutor Training

Newport Beach Public Library
Central Library - 1000 Avacado

Sep 3 - 6 pm
Tutor Orientation
READ/Orange County
Fullerton Library

Sep 3 - 6:30 pm
Tutor Workshop
Corona Public Library - 650 S Main

Sep 4 - 10 am

Annual Celebration of Literacy
Newport Beach Public Library - 1000 Avacado

Sep 4 - 6 pm
Tutor Training

Burbank Public Library - 110 N Glenoaks

Sep 6 - 10 am

Tutor Training
San Diego County Library
Vista Branch

Sep 6 - 12 pm
Family Picnic-Appreciation Day
READ/Orange County

Sep 6 - 1 pm
Spelling Bee Fundraiser
Santa Maria City Library
Souza Center - 708 S Miller


Sep 8 - 10 am
Tutor Training

READ/San Diego
Benjamin Branch Library- 5188 Zion Ave
San Diego CA

Sep 9 - 6 pm
Tutor Workshop
READ/Orange County
Costa Mesa Library

Sep 13 - 9:30 am
Grand Reopening

Rancho Cucamonga Archibald Library
7368 Archibald Avenue

Sep 13 - 10 am
Tutor Workshop
Palmdale City Library
Larry Chimbole Cultural Center
38350 Sierra Hwy - Palmdale CA

Sep 13 - 6:30 pm
Chocolate Suite
Fundraiser
San Luis Obispo City-County Library
Cass Winery

Sep 17 - 9:30 am
Outreach & Retention of Adult Learners
Escondido Public Library - 239 S. Kalmia St


Sep 17 - 6:30 pm
Youth Literacy Orientation

Oceanside Public Library
Mission Branch Library - 3861 Mission Ave

Sep 20 - TBA
Tutor Training
San Luis Obispo City-County Library
1264 Higuera Street, Suite #102

Sep 20 -9 am
Walk A Mile for Literacy
Hemet Public Library Adult Literacy Services
315 E Latham


Sep 23 - 5:30 pm
Tutor Training
San Diego County Library
El Cajon Branch


Sep 26 - 5:30 pm
Scrabble Fundraiser
Santa Barbara Public Library
Faulkner Gallery - 40 E Anapamu
Santa Barbara CA



Monday, August 25, 2008

News for You - Online


News for You provides adult ESL students and struggling readers with news that is easy to read and understand. These engaging, timely stories will help students build language, reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, listening, and speaking skills, and more !

With the online version, students can:
~ Read and listen to the front -page stories

~ Listen sentence-by-sentence or listen to the full story
~ Listen sentence-by-sentence as many times as they need
~ Go back to a story archive for review and more practice
~ Archive begins: June 2008

Published by New Readers Press, a publishing division of ProLiteracy