Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Camarena Library :: Selected to Pilot Spanish Literacy Course Across California


Camarena Memorial Library To Increase Among Non-Literate Latino Adults Selected to Pilot Spanish Literacy Course Across California
Desert Review: 7.20.2016

The Camarena Memorial Library has been selected as one of nine libraries across California to join a pilot program – LeamosTM (Let’s Read) @ the Library. Centro Latino for Literacy (Centro Latino), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, launched the project to bring its online literacy course to the state’s non-literate Spanish speakers, which number 573,866 (2009-2011 ACS, PERE pooled file). The two-year pilot project is supported by a grant awarded by the James Irvine Foundation to Centro Latino to explore partnerships with public libraries. Greg Lucas, California State Librarian said, “In a state which gained a Latino plurality [in 2014], it seems at a minimum good common sense to encourage programs like Leamos. Without literacy skills in their native language, proficiency in English becomes significantly harder, if not impossible, to attain.”

Public libraries will incorporate the use of Leamos™ as an effective strategy to both promote reading at its most basic level and to effectively outreach to Spanish-speakers in their communities. “Leamos @ the Library is the portal for non-literate Spanish speakers to close both the basic and digital literacy gaps and to increase civic engagement,” stated AnaMaria Ruiz, Centro Latino Board Liaison, pointing out that a key initiative of the James Irvine Foundation is to increase civic engagement. “Learning to read and write is ground zero. Many students have described learning to read and write as being able to see after a lifetime of being blind – ‘Ya tengo ojos (Now I have eyes)’”.

Library literacy staff involved with the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN) have encountered this need in their communities, but have lacked the resources to address it. 

Meanwhile, Centro Latino for Literacy (Centro Latino) has been teaching basic literacy skills to Spanish speakers since 1991 and in 2004 transferred its course to an online platform to make it available beyond its Los Angeles classrooms. Now operating as a social enterprise, Centro Latino licenses its proprietary LeamosTM (Let's Read) Basic online course to workforce development organizations, parent engagement groups, community colleges, public libraries and more.  In March 2015 the James Irvine Foundation awarded a two-year grant to Centro Latino to deepen its impact statewide; Centro Latino chose to focus this effort on partnerships with public libraries.  They have recruited five libraries for year one of the project (Roseville, Salinas, Santa Barbara, Riverside, and Covina), and  the library systems which already partner with Centro Latino will also participate in this project to bring the broadest possible perspectives and learning experiences together.  The five libraries currently involved are:  Azusa, Los Angeles County-Huntington Park branch, Los Angeles City Library, Huntington Beach, and Anaheim. Together these ten libraries will pilot using Leamos Basic as a tool for public libraries to teach literacy skills to Spanish speakers and their experience will be documented and guide an additional ten California libraries to provide Spanish literacy in their communities in year two of the Irvine grant. 

SCLLN has designed this LSTA proposal as a companion piece to leverage the James Irvine Foundation award to Centro Latino to strengthen its focus on public libraries as a community anchor – a “zocalo” (public square) familiar to Latin America immigrants.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Prison Literacy :: Incarceration | Dyslexia | Inmates | Education | Reading | Library

Tweet – Tweeter – Tweetest
Superlatives from SCLLN

“Inmates enrolled in ed programs while incarcerated
were far less likely to return to prison.”


New podcast!
We talk w/ founder of @asocialignition,
an org that helps people re-enter society after incarceration





Prison program lets inmate moms send their voices


Prison libraries and prison library programs
can build bridges to literacy, love of reading.





Pop Culture Classroom is kicking off a new literacy program
at a CO prison using comics





Literacy can help fix America’s mass incarceration problem.
Here's how:



Pre-K To Prison Pipeline: A Case For Orton Gillingham!

Friday, August 5, 2016

LA Unified Reopens All District Libraries — But Forgets About the Books

LA Unified reopens all district libraries — but forgets about the books
LA School Report: 8.04.2016 by Mike Szymanski

For the first time since some school libraries were shuttered during budget cuts in 2008, all of the LA Unified school libraries will be back up and running when school starts again on August 16.

But according to the latest district estimates, the majority of students across Los Angeles will still be forced to rely on under-stocked library collections filled with outdated materials.

District numbers show that the average age of a book in a LAUSD library is now more than 20 years old, and that the books-per-student ratio is a shocking 35 percent below the state average. Even more dire: Most district schools have only a minimal budget to spend on bridging this gap—if they have any additional library funds at all.  READ MORE @

Little support for California’s public libraries
Sent to the Los Angeles Daily News, August 4.
Krashen: 8.04.2016

Julie Beth Todaro and Audrey Church are right when they argue that  "Shelving LAUSD’s school librarians would widen the learning gap," (August 3). Making the situation worse is data showing that California's public libraries are not well-supported.

California cities captured seven of the bottom ten places in the public library category of the recent (2015) "America's Most Literate Cities report." The report analyzes data from 77 cities with populations of 250,000 and above, and is based on number of branch libraries, holdings, circulation and staffing.

The bottom ten:
68. Los Angeles
69. Anaheim
72. Bakersfield
73. Sacramento
74. Chula Vista
75. Stockton
77. Santa Ana

Study after study has confirmed that library quality and professional library staffing are directly related to reading achievement.  More access to books, combined with helpful librarians, means more reading, and more reading means higher levels of reading achievement.

No wonder reading achievement is low in California.

Stephen Krashen
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California


Thursday, August 4, 2016

Carlsbad Library :: Literacy Center Celebration

Learning Center Celebration
Learning Connection: Jul/Aug 2016

Approximately 72 tutors, learners, family and friends enjoyed Literacy Services’ annual celebration held May 22 at the Senior Center. This event was to congratulate our literacy learners on their accomplishments, recognize our volunteer tutors for their outstanding dedication and thank the City and Library leaders for their support. The program started with a slide show of our accomplishments during the year, followed by remarks from Council Member Schumacher and Library Director Heather Pizzuto. Tutors and learners then shared what the program means to them. Light refreshments and cupcakes followed the program.

Statistics shared at the event: 
 During the past fiscal year, volunteers contributed over 11,000 hours of their time helping learners reach their goals. Currently, 72 tutor/ learner pairs meet twice per week to work on reading, writing and computer skills.

 Learners set and achieved a range of goals, from reading an entire book for the first time to helping their children with homework. These skills lead to personal success that, in turn, creates a stronger community. Nearly half of the learners met a job-related goal, such as getting a job, which contributes to strengthening the local economy.

A Published Author
We would like to congratulate learner Nyla H. for being published and having her artwork chosen for the cover of the book, Messages, through the organization WE LEARN (Women Expanding Literacy Education Action Resource Network).  WE LEARN is a community promoting women’s literacy as a tool that fosters empowerment and equity for women.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Los Angeles Public Library :: Proud to Host the Adult Literacy Leadership Institute

The Los Angeles Public Library was proud to host the Adult Literacy Leadership Institute at the Central Library
READ: Summer 2016
A newsletter written by students and tutors

The Los Angeles Public Library was proud to host the Adult Literacy Leadership Institute at the Central Library on May 6 and 7, 2016.  One of our learners attended a bootcamp in Ventura, so the number of attendees this year was an incredible 13.


• By learner Ethel Harris My overall experience in the Adult Learner Leadership Institute was educational.  The presentations were given by ALLI participants who have worked to improve their literacy skills and were able to transfer what they’d learned at ALLI to us.  The topics discussed were leadership qualities that I want to develop and use everywhere I go (Setting and Achieving Goals, Self Esteem, Networking, and Advocacy).  The atmosphere in the room was comfortable and the leadership group responsible for  the workshop were polite.  I didn’t have a problem writing and getting the two minute speech assignment completed.

• By learner Magdalena Guadalupe Deleon Tran My name is Magdalena.  I came to the ALLI Bootcamp from the Lincoln Heights Branch Library ALP Program.

I had an interesting time at the Bootcamp, which was held at the Central Library on May 6 and 7, 2016.

I learned about leadership and about myself. For example, I learned that a leader is a person who leads others, has high self-esteem, and who believes that they can lead.  I learned how to control my fears of speaking, since when I become afraid to speak up my voice is weak and fragile, but as I continue to speak, I become more confident and my voice returns to normal.  I also learned many meanings of words that describe feelings, like selfish, pride, and self-esteem.  I also learned some names that described behaviors: avoider, resister, accepter, and seeker.

In my opinion, ALLI should be a mandatory program given to those on Welfare so that all the people who are not in school or who can’t read anything at all could improve their handwriting and reading and get better jobs. It doesn’t matter if a person is young or old, they can lead the poor, especially those on Skid Row in Los Angeles, to have a valuable experience.

I want to thank Ms. Kelly for the invitation to the ALLI Bootcamp.  I also want to say to my sponsor that I appreciate having the opportunity to be part of the Adult Literacy Program and Algebra Upgrade.  I’m grateful for my wonderful tutor, Kate, who is so flexible about my schedule.  Thank you all for leading me.  I will lead others, too. Thank you, Ms. Kathy.

Learning is good at any time.  It’s better to learn than to never have learned.

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Southern California & Statewide Literacy & Library Events :: August 2016

Southern California & Statewide Literacy & Library Events
August 2016

SCLLN
Literacy & Library Events & Conferences
- Local, California and National –
Southern California Library Literacy Network
for more information


Aug 09  Book Lovers Day
Aug 09 Autism Sensory Friendly Films SUICIDE SQUAD 7p
Aug 10 Annual Picture Book 10 for 10 #pb10for10 Google Community
Aug 13 Autism Sensory Friendly Films PETE'S DRAGON 10a
Aug 20 Liemert Park Book Fair Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
Aug 20+ Tuolumne Meadows Poetry Festival Parsons Lodge, Yosemite Natl Park
Aug 23 Autism Sensory Friendly Films WAR DOGS 7p
Aug 26 WorldCat Birthday
Aug 27 Autism Sensory Friendly Films PETE'S DRAGON 10a



Thursday, July 28, 2016

Altadena Library :: Bob Lucas Branch and Literacy Center Honored at Neighborhood Church

Bob Lucas Branch and Literacy Center Honored at Neighborhood Church
Connect: July 2016 From the Director

On June 11th, 2016 the Bob Lucas Branch and Literacy Center was honored at the Altadena’s 7th Day Adventist’s Church’s International Day of Fellowship for community service. The Church recognizes one organization’s community service annually at this event. We were this year’s proud recipients!  Staff were presented with a plaque at the service that now adorns our wall.

The International Day of Fellowship was coordinated by Dr. Sybil Cross and the service was conducted by Lead Pastor, Dr. Richardson Honoré, Pastor Dr. Royal Harrison and Pastor E.M. McBride. The event featured beautiful singing by Noelette Leader and other parishioners and music by the Church band. This spiritually uplifting event celebrated neighbors, community, and diversity. International fellowship was celebrated by a parade of flags from around the world that were carried by local community members. Our own ESL teacher, Modesta Nava proudly carried the flag for Mexico.

We are grateful for this recognition for our literacy program and library services for the community.