Saturday, September 19, 2015

Literacy Jobs – California :: Commerce Library

Literacy Jobs – California

Huntington Beach Library :: Family Literacy Awards

Family Literacy Annual Awards Event
Open Doors: September 2015

The Oak View branch held its annual awards on August 27, 2015. It was attended by approximately 100 enthusiastic literacy families, volunteers and friends, who enjoyed a scrumptious dinner provided by learner and tutor donations and which included tamales, tacos, beans, salads, desserts and much more.

Our board president, Susie Hodge, introduced special guests and congratulated all participants for their hard work. Huntington Beach City Council member Barbara Delgleize spoke of her appreciation for literacy services and how important it is for our community.

Congratulations to our Excellence Award winners: Acela C, Maribel G, and Janet V.

Congratulations to our volunteers earning service pins. 5-year pins: Irma Bermel, Michael DiGennaro and Michael Sloan; 10-year pins: Gary Gillenger, Joan Gillenger, Michael Kibel, Sue Kibel, Lani Martin, Linda Marsoun and John Ramsey; and Margarita Rubio who earned her 20 year pin.

Congratulations to our Pre-ESL volunteers, Luz Arreola, Ana Clara, Acela Cortes, Maria Hern and Beatriz Salinas and to our Computer Coaches who received special recognition, Imelda Bernal, Paula Flores, Raquel Guzman, Carmen Lezama, and Beatriz Salinas.

Thank you to everyone who made the Family Literacy Awards Night so special!
  

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Glendora Library :: City of Glendora proclaiming September 2015 as "Adult Literacy Month."

September 9

Glendora Library's Literacy Coordinator Mary Pat Dodson with Council member Judy Nelson receiving a Proclamation from the State of California and the City of Glendora proclaiming September 2015 as "Adult Literacy Month."

** Approximately 6000 adults living in the city of Glendora do not have the literacy skills required to independently manage daily activities at home and work.
** The Glendora Reads Program trains and engages community volunteers to tutor adults and increase literacy levels.


Thank you Mary Pat!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

California Library Literacy Services :: Welcomes 5 Libraries



So happy to be able to announce that with a portion of the funds restored to us by the Governor and Legislature this year we have been able to welcome 5 libraries into California Library Literacy Services! Congrats to


Hooray for all the new adult learners we can serve with awesome new volunteers!

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Los Angeles Public Library - It's a Match

It’s a Match Part I
A newsletter written by students and tutors. Changing lives one chapter at a time.

Deborah’s Story By tutor Deborah Hanley
When our economy fell in 2009, none of us knew how life as we knew it would change. For me, it meant the end of long-term employment and facing the extensive recession as a single woman in her 60’s. After living in Massachusetts my entire life, I rented out my home and drove cross-country with my adult daughter, Annie, a resident of Los Angeles.

Even driving through multiple states in a stuffed compact car could not compare with the culture shock I felt after arriving here. Where would I live? Would I be able to find work? How would I meet friends in this vast city? Luckily, the Los Angeles Public Library system offered an option through the tutoring program, which saved the day in more ways than one.

I was enlisted through Alicia Chavarin, Ben Franklin Branch, who paired me with Margarita Severiano, Maggie—a beautiful single mother of three boys.

From our very first meeting, Maggie impressed me with her openness, her dedication to her studying and her willingness to accept this “foreigner.” Week after week, we learned more and more about each other and our families as we reviewed the course work. The materials spurred discussions about politics, famous personalities, becoming a citizen, using the computer, immigration reform, getting a driver’s license, identifying skills and career paths, cultural innuendo, slang, our children, and much more. It moved on to cooking tamales, quesadillas, salsas. I told her how I was the one who needed tutoring in Spanish, feeling quite educationally challenged because of it. After all, she could speak two languages. Week after week Maggie arrived fully prepared for our session and was always more awake than I was!

Alicia could not have made a better match. I look forward to each tutoring session. I feel warmly welcomed by Maggie and Alicia. The excellent library system of Los Angeles has provided unlimited opportunities to acclimate here through the Tutoring Program, exhibits, the outstanding Aloud program and the beauty of ordering a book or DVD online and having the convenience of an e-mail notification and a quick trip to my local branch to pick it up.

Thank you, Maggie and Alicia. Thank you, Los Angeles. It’s definitely feeling a lot more like home.

Maggie’s Story by learner Margarita Severiano
I would write a special Valentine message to my tutor. When Alicia assigned Deborah as my tutor, I did not expect to meet someone who was new to Los Angeles and facing more challenges than I have with the English language. I’m a Spanish-speaking woman and Deborah is also a woman but uprooted from New England.

At first I was worried that this former teacher and paralegal was going to be very tough on me and expect too much.

I was right! However, I responded to her challenge and I am so pleased with my progress. She has helped me improve my English skills, including reading and phonetics. -She makes every session interesting, educational and enjoyable. Also, Deborah and I can openly discuss any topic including politics, health, movies, music… She sees my drive and always encourages me to strive forward. I am so grateful to have Deborah both as my tutor and my friend.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Bob Laubach, pioneer in adult literacy education, has died

Bob Laubach, pioneer in adult literacy education, has died
Syracuse.com: 9.12.2015 by Elizabeth Doran

Robert S. Laubach, a pioneer in adult literacy education and founder of New Readers Press, died Friday at age 96.

"Dr. Bob" as he was known, and his late father Dr. Frank C. Laubach, are credited with teaching more than 100 million adults to read and write in more than 200 languages.

Bob Laubach helped his father after Laubach Literacy Inc., was founded in 1955 in Syracuse. That organization became one of the founding organizations of ProLiteracy Worldwide in 2002. Bob Laubach then developed literacy primers in local languages and organized literacy programs in more than 60 countries.

"Dr. Bob devoted his life to adult literacy and will be remembered for his many contributions over the past 80 years," said Kevin Morgan, president and CEO of ProLiteracy. "His legacy will live on in the weekly newspaper for adult learners, News for You, as well as the other adult education content he helped pioneer."

Friday, September 11, 2015

UOP Beyond Our Gates Dialogue Focuses on Importance of Early Literacy

Forum focuses on importance of early literacy
Record Net: 9.10.2015 by Almendra Carpizo

The average home in San Joaquin County only has two books.

That is “startling” information University of the Pacific President Pamela A. Eibeck recently learned, she told about 175 people gathered Thursday for the annual Beyond Our Gates Dialogue event.

The forum, which is attended by educators, elected officials, nonprofit organizations and business leaders, was focused on the importance of early literacy, cultivating community partnerships to help students succeed and encouraging parents to engage their children and ensure that they attend school.

San Joaquin County Office of Education Superintendent James Mousalimas said at the start of the program that if the community wants to make progress in student achievement, literacy has to start before kindergarten.

“A rule of thumb we heard is that if a child is able to read by the end of third grade, they will have the tools to read and learn as they go forward,” Eibeck said.

According to a 2014 San Joaquin Literacy Report Card, only 34 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds are enrolled in preschool. The percentage dropped from 46 percent in 2011. Statewide, enrollment is at 50 percent, according to the report.

“How can we make sure a young child arrives in school ready to learn and by the third grade is able to read?” Eibeck asked.

Featured speaker Greg Lucas, who was appointed state librarian by Gov. Jerry Brown in March 2014, opened by saying that “the most cost-effective investment of taxpayer money is in helping people to read or read better.”

It keeps people out of prison, it helps them obtain better jobs and, he added, “if I’m a mommy, the No. 1 indicator of my kids’ academic success is my literacy rate.”  READ MORE !