Thursday, March 20, 2014

World Storytelling Day: March 20

World Storytelling Day: March 20

World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn equinox in the southern. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night. Participants tell each other about their events in order to share stories and inspiration, to learn from each other and create international contacts.

If you are on Twitter, tweet about 2014 events with the #WSD14 hashtag!

Each year, many of the individual storytelling events that take place around the globe are linked by a common theme. Each year, the theme is identified by and agreed upon by storytellers from around the world on the worldstorytellingday listserv.

•2014 - Monsters and Dragons
•2015 - Wishes


Monday, March 17, 2014

Literacy Library Jobs - California: Los Angeles Public, Menlo Park

Literacy Jobs: California

LAPL: Pio-Pico-Koreatown Branch
Recruit, interview, mentor and guide learners and tutors.
DEADLINE: March 24


literacy support position will match tutors with students. Organize, distribute and keep records of books and materials.
DEADLINE: March 24

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Los Angeles Public Library: It's A Match

It’s A Match
LAPL READ Newsletter:
Winter 2014



Cai’s Story by Learner, Cai Zhou

I urgently wanted to speak and write in English well in order to have better life in the United States. I have tried many ways to learn English since I immigrated to here from China in 2004. My English skill was not enough to have a job in a medical field. Especially communication with people in English made me feel down. I was disappointed with my broken English. How could I work out my problems I asked myself? I needed to get help. I went to Lincoln Heights Public Library in my neighborhood where I often go to read or borrow the books.

One day, I saw a thoughtful middle aged woman explaining something in a low voice to a foreign person like a teacher to a student. I walked quietly and asked curiously: “Are you teaching English?” Could I have a chance to learn from you?” The tutor said that the Adult Literacy program can help; she introduced Kathy Hall to me. I told her I needed to improve my English urgently. Then I did a pretest. She put me on a waiting list of Adult Literacy Program to have an English tutor.  READ MORE !

Megan’s Story by Tutor, Megan Duquette

Fortunate enough to have a father who instilled the value and importance of volunteerism in me early in life, one of the first things I sought out when I moved from Illinois to Los Angeles was volunteer opportunities. Finding the Adult Literacy Program was such a blessing, as is my student, Cai Zhou. My first meeting with Cai was on a beautiful fall day in 2011 in the garden outside of Union Station.

Having no previous experience teaching English to an adult learner, I was uncertain how our lessons would go. However, Cai’s willingness to learn, enthusiasm, and attentiveness quickly calmed my fears. Cai is committed to improving her patient care as a nurse through honing her English skills. We are both very busy and it takes a lot of puzzle piecing to get our schedules to align so that we can meet each week, but her dedication and warmth make it easy for me to stay committed and energized throughout our lessons.  READ MORE !

Los Angeles Public #Library @LAPublicLibrary
IMLS Finalist Share Your Story @ LAPL

Monday, March 10, 2014

Newport Beach Library: OASIS Graduating Class

An OASIS of Volunteer Tutors
Newport/Mesa ProLiteracy,
Literally Speaking: Mar/Apr 2014

OASIS—WINTER 2014 Congratulations to our first OASIS graduating class!


Late last year, Literacy Coordinator, Cherall Weiss, visited the OASIS Senior Center and gave a brief presentation at one of their monthly meetings to recruit new volunteer tutors.  The response was extremely positive and led to a new relationship between NMPL and OASIS. For the first time, both a Tutor Orientation and Tutor Training series were held at the Center.


As a result, we have eight new tutors who are committed to the program. The venue has also been opened up as an alternate location for our tutor-learner pairs to meet for weekly sessions. We are hoping to offer an OASIS Tutor Orientation and Tutor Training session at least two times a year. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with OASIS members!


Saturday, March 8, 2014

'Spritzing' One Word at a Time !

CLICK 
take it for a test !
Spritz Reinvents Reading on Mobile Devices,
One Word at a Time
PRNewswire: 2.23.2014

Reading is inherently time consuming because your eyes have to move from word 2 word and line 2 line. Spritz streams text 1 word at a time, without forcing your eyes to spend time moving around the page. It enhances readability even more by using horizontal lines and hash marks to direct your eyes to the red letter in each word, so you can focus on the content that interests you.

Spritz enables the brain to focus on each word, promoting faster reading speeds and higher information retention rates.

Spritz technology currently supports English, Spanish, French, German, Russian and Korean, with more languages on the way. With multiple reading speeds to match a user's comfort level ranging from 100 to 1000 words per minute, "spritzing" is easy to learn for all ages. Users typically become accustomed to reading in this new format within a few minutes of their first spritz. Available with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Gear 2 this Spring.  READ MORE !

Friday, March 7, 2014

Literacy Library Jobs = California: Salinas, South San Francisco, San Mateo

Literacy Jobs: California

responsible for our Literacy Division, consisting of Project Read and the Community Learning Center
DEADLINE: March 31

Literacy Clerk: Temporary, Grant Funded
variety of general and clerical duties, including those related to Literacy Services for the Library and Community Services Department
DEADLINE: Continuous

Literacy Specialist (Parent Educator)
12-Month, Grant-Funded Position
REQUIRES COMPLETION OF 12 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE) UNITS
collect parenting ladder data for reporting purposes and to implement early literacy playgroups in the library and/or a city recreation center using a pre-set curriculum that includes facilitating open play, singing songs, conducting story time and engaging with parents.
DEADLINE: Until Filled


coordinating an English as a Second Language program; conducting student, tutor, volunteer assessments and training; providing assistance in the daily operations of the adult literacy program.
DEADLINE: March 31


Thursday, March 6, 2014

Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award: 2014

Outstanding Librarian
in Support of Literacy Award: 2014

The California Library Association Literacy Interest Group and California Library Literacy Services Invite Your Nominations.

Nominations must be received by March 28, 2014

Here’s your chance to recognize an exceptional librarian who demonstrates passion, excellence and dedication in support of literacy!

Purpose: This award is to recognize and honor a librarian who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support literacy.


Eligibility: The nominee cannot be a literacy services staff person who already provides direct literacy services. The nominee can be someone who has performed one or more of the following services in support of literacy:
ô€€³ Outreach
ô€€³ Public Awareness
ô€€³ Programming
ô€€³ Collection Development
ô€€³ Advocacy
ô€€³ Fund Raising
ô€€³ Recruitment
ô€€³ Other – You name it ! ! !


Only one nomination per library jurisdiction is allowed.This is an individual award – nomination cannot be for a group.The winner will be honored at the CLA 2014 Conference in Oakland.

The winner receives a 1-year CLA Membership, a plaque, recognition on the CLA website and a gift certificate. Each nominee will receive a certificate of special recognition.

Past Winners:
2013: Patricia Noa, Regional Services Manager, Orange County Public Library
2012: Christy Aguirre, Sacramento Public Library
2011: Patricia Lorenzo, Santa Clara County Library District
2010: Anne Cain, Contra Costa County Library
2009: Derek Wolfgram, Santa Clara County Library
2008: Jean Hofacket, Alameda County Library
2007: Carol Starr, Marin County Free Library
2006: John M. Adams, Orange County Public Library
2005: Sofia Bellos, Oxnard Public Library
2004: Leslie McGinnis Rodd, Oakland Public Library
2003: Chuck Aston, Redwood City Public Library