Adult Learners Study Long Hours at the Library

The Library’s adult literacy program had 67 learners in 2009, who spent over 2000 hours studying to improve their reading and writing skills. Learners used a variety of methods to improve their literacy skills, including meeting with a volunteer tutor, listening to books on CD, and using computer programs or watching videos on phonics, spelling, grammar and GED. For many of our learners, this is more than the average literate American reads! Many of our adult learners have multiple jobs, meaning that a commitment to come to the Library once a week is a challenge. Dedicating so much time to reading is a huge accomplishment for the learners, one which they realize will ultimately help them get better jobs, help their children succeed in school, and help them in daily activities such as reading their mail, using a bank or visiting the doctor.

 

Tutor & Learner Conference on Feb. 27

SCLLN’s annual conference for tutors and learners will be held on Feb. 27 in Buena Park.  Registration forms are at: http://sclln.org/whatsnew.html or come by the office to get one.  This conference fills up quickly; I recommend registering as soon as possible.  We will carpool from the Library, so if you would like to carpool, please let me know.  There are great workshops for learners too, so please invite your learners to attend.

Melanie

New Materials for Literacy Learners at the Library

Through a grant received by Literacy Services, the Library is purchasing many new materials to help low-literacy adults learn to read and write better. Among the new materials is a web-based language-learning program called Auralog, which adult learners can use at the Library. We have also received books on CD and computer books, which learners can take home; they read and listen at the same time, which improves reading speed and fluency and word recognition. In the next few months, we will also receive a computer-based phonics program and a basic writing program, helping learners formulate full sentences with good spelling and grammar. Any adult who needs reading and writing help is welcome to come by the library to check out the materials as well as be paired with a volunteer for tutoring.

Book Recommendation

I’m currently reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which is pretty book.  I read it in English a few years ago and am now reading it in Spanish.  Since Spanish is my second language and I haven’t read much in Spanish for a while, it is a very good reminder for me about how much our adult learners struggle when they read.

Our copy of Shadow of the Wind is checked out, but you can put it on hold at: http://cityofmonrovia.ws/community-life/library/library-catalog.

Enjoy!

Thank You for Participating in the See’s Candy Fundraiser!

We raised $244 in the fundraiser, which is great!  Please keep those fundraising ideas coming.   We still need to raise a lot more by June 30.  If you would like to make a donation, you can do at: http://monrovialiteracy.bbnow.org/ or send a check to the Monrovia Public Library, 321 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016, attn Literacy Services.  Thanks to everyone for your help in fundraising!

Seven Steps to Being Gainfully Employed Seminar

Monday, January 25, 6 – 7:30 pm: Librarian Jeff Lambert will help patrons learn to fill out and complete on-line applications for unemployment, create resumes and cover letters. Patrons will also learn how to utilize career resources, develop interviewing skills, and learn about a multitude of job websites. The seminar is free. Please call 626-256-8274 for more information.

Half-Priced Sale in the Friends Store!

All books and media in the Friends Bookstore will be half-priced January 23 – 30. New books will be on the shelves daily. Come by to get great deals on books and support the Library! For more information on the Friends, please go to their website at: http://www.friendsofmonrovialibrary.org/.

Library Closed January 18 for Martin Luther King Day

To find out how you can celebrate Martin Luther King’s legacy, visit

http://www.mlkday.gov/ or http://www.thekingcenter.org/KingHoliday/Default.aspx.

The Meaning of Intelligence

I thought this was a really interesting radio program about how education relates to democracy, how we define intelligence, success, and vocation: http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2010/meaning-of-intelligence/. This radio program has had a couple of other interesting topics relating to literacy, such as the importance of experiential learning: http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/learning-doing-being/ and the importance of play in learning and living: http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/play/

Thanks to Lauren for her AmeriCorps Year!

For the past five years, the Library has received a state grant to place AmeriCorps interns in Literacy Services. Lauren Arevalo, our 2009 intern, has just finished her year of service and the Library sends her many thanks. Among Lauren’s accomplishments were increasing Literacy Services’ web presence through a blog, Facebook page, donation page and on-line reporting for tutors; teaching a class on nutrition for low-literacy families; setting up an evaluation process for youth receiving tutoring at the Library; and training tutors. The grant pays for interns’ living allowance and scholarship, so all of Lauren’s accomplishments had almost no cost to the Library. Thanks to Lauren for all of her hard work through the year and we’re glad that she will continue to volunteer!