Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Screen Actors Guild Foundation's Celebrity Autographed Book Auction

Screen Actors Guild Foundation's
Celebrity Autographed Book Auction:
raising money for its literacy programs.
AUCTION ENDS TUESDAY, JULY 28.

With summer in full swing, a number of celebrity authors donated autographed copies of their books to help raise funds for the Screen Actors Guild Foundation's literacy programs.
Bid on books written and autographed by:

Steve Martin's - The Alphabet from A to Y with a Bonus Letter Z !
Michael J. Fox's - Always Looking Up
Heidi Klum's - Heidi Klum's Body of Knowledge
Julianne Moore's - Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully
Jeff Foxworthy's - Silly Street

and many others . . . . .

Proceeds from the auction benefit the Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s literacy effort, which began in 1992 and now includes such programs as:
• BookPALS, a volunteer program comprised of performing artists who read aloud to students in schools, hospitals and libraries.
• We The Children, which teaches children the value of books and the importance of their lives by giving them the opportunity to write and illustrate their family history.
• Storyline Online, an online interactive website which brings the excitement of books into the classroom and home.


The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation is a 501c3 organization that hosts charity auctions showcasing today's hottest celebrity attire. Items are put up for bid to the public with proceeds going to benefit children's charities. Clothes Off Our Back was founded by actors and philanthropists Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Huntington Beach Library - Family Literacy held its Annual Awards Night


Library Services Department
Huntington Beach Events
whatsupinsealbeach: July 9, 2009 by Wilm

The Family Literacy Program, part of Literacy Volunteers-HBPL, held its Annual Awards Night on Thursday, June 25, 2009, with more than 130 in attendance.

Mayor Keith Bohr and Library Director Stephanie Beverage helped welcome and thank all literacy students and volunteers. The program awarded 7 adult students with literacy awards in the categories of motivation, persistence, and dedication to learning – three important ingredients for success in learning and achieving goals. Several volunteers received pins for 5 and 10 years of service to the program and 3 volunteers received special recognition for their outstanding work. We appreciate all our volunteers and the difference they make in the lives of literacy students.


Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Literacy Tribune: July 2009

Literacy Tribune: July 2009

United Literacy, a non-profit organization, provides resources and support to adult literacy learners in the United States. Its aim is to make literacy education accessible and worthwhile for adult learners.

Main Story: Neighborhood Watch
~ Whether you live in a city, suburb, town, or rural area, crime is a concern.

A Learner's Poem
~ Good Feeling by Rodolfo Diaz

Member Spotlight: John Corcoran
~ graduated from college, became a high school teacher, and a successful real estate developer all before he learned to read at age 48.

Technology Watch: Buying a Netbook

~ Over the last 15 years computers have shrunk in size.

A History Lesson: The Reconstruction Amendments
~ When the United States ratified the Constitution in 1788, slavery was a common practice.


Call for Writers !

Are you an adult learner ?
Do you want to write ?
Do you want to publish your writing ?

The Literacy Tribune is looking for adult learner writers.
You can write about:

Your road to literacy
Your literacy organization
Literacy resources you like
You can write book reviews, poetry, short stories
You can write articles about health, finance, or technology

You can write just about anything !

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

CA & National Literacy Calendar: July 2009


California Literacy Calendar: July 2009


SCLLN Literacy & Library Events & Conferences
-local, California and National Conferences-
visit the



Current Tutor Training Workshops scrolling in left frame

Local: July 2009

Jul 18: 1.30 pm
Gift of Dyslexia Tour-Ron Davis: Irvine


California Conferences: July 2009
Jul 13
Quality Teaching for English Learners Inst: San Francisco


Jul 24
Sierra Storytelling Festival: Nevada City

National Conferences: July 2009

July 9
American Library Association: Chicago IL

Jul 19
Correctional Education Association: Madison WI



Monday, June 29, 2009

Martini Contest is Anything but Ordinary

Martini Contest is Anything but Ordinary
Contra Costa Times: June 25, 2009
by Jonathan Morales-Lamorinda Sun

Jay Crabb tossed fresh strawberries and some basil into a glass and mashed them together before adding orange and lemon juice, vodka and just a drop of balsamic vinegar.

"Do you have plain martinis?" a woman asked as she approached his table.

Not here, Crabb replied. "Every table features a specialty cocktail."

This may be the only martini event James Bond would leave disappointed.

Crabb, from Bijou Restaurant and Bar in Hayward, was one of 14 East Bay mixmasters serving up unique recipes at the 10th annual Martini Tasting at the Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa on Monday. Proceeds from this year's contest will benefit Project Second Chance, an adult literacy program.

Traditional martinis were nowhere to be found Monday, but martinis made with shaved lemon peels, jalapeños or Godiva chocolate? Absolutely.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >>>

Laura Seaholm, program director for Project Second Chance, estimated about 500 people attended the event and about $15,000 was raised for the program.

Project Second Chance is the county library's adult literacy program and was founded in 1984. The program offers free one-on-one literacy instruction to people 16 years or older to help them improve their reading, writing and spelling skills. 925 . 943 . 8048 READ MORE !

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Los Angeles Public Library - New City Librarian, New Call to Fight Illiteracy

New City Librarian, New Call to Fight Illiteracy
Laist: June 24, 2009 by Zach Behrens


Martin J. Gomez was confirmed today as the new City Librarian, charging him with the duty to oversee a $129 million budget, 6 million books and 1,100 employees throughout the 71 branches. The UCLA grad started his 30-year career as branch librarian in San Diego, moving on to head up Oakland's system, then to work in Brooklyn and most recently San Mateo.

Taking advantage of the moment, Councilmember Richard Alarcon introduced a motion to fight illiteracy rates in the city. “We have one of the largest, and growing, illiterate populations in the nation in Los Angeles, and we must take proactive steps to strategically reduce this devastating trend,” said Alarcón in a statement citing that 3.8 million people in the metropolitan area cannot read. “My motion is the first step in re-thinking the role of the library system, so the Department can further expand its role in helping people of all ages receive a crucial tool for success - the ability to read.”

The motion calls for a report on current literacy levels, assessment of current literacy programs done through the City and in conjunction with private and non-profit partners, the inclusion of the goal of reducing literacy as part of the mission statement and also the formation of a Literacy Advisory Committee. The motion also calls for a possibly changing the name of the department from the Los Angeles Public Library to the City of Los Angeles Department of Literacy and Public Library.