Wednesday, March 30, 2016

National Literacy & Library Events :: April 2016

National Literacy & Library Events: April 2016

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


Apr. 01  International Edible Book Festival Books2Eat
Apr. 02+ ASCD Conference Atlanta GA
Apr. 03+ Value of Play Clemson Univ SC
Apr. 05+ TESOL Convention Baltimore MD
Apr. 07+ American Occupational Therapy Assoc Chicago IL
Apr. 07+ Virginia Hamilton Conf on Multicultural Literature for Youth Kent State Univ
Apr. 08+ American Educational Research Assc Conf Washington DC
Apr. 09   Leamos (Let’s Read) at the Library @ PLA Denver CO 9:30a
Apr. 09   Autism Sensory Friendly Films BATMAN V. SUPERMAN 10a
Apr. 09   Young People's Poetry Day
Apr. 10+ COABE Dallas TX
Apr. 11+ Power of Play Marbles Kids Museum Raleigh NC
Apr. 12  Autism Sensory Friendly Films BATMAN V. SUPERMAN 7p
Apr. 13+ Young Child Expo NY NY
Apr. 14+ DPLAfest 2016 Washington DC
Apr. 14+ Elementary Literacy Conference Schindler Education Center UNI
Apr. 17   Haiku Poetry Day
Apr. 17+ Social Media Marketing World San Diego CA
Apr. 23   World Book Night
Apr. 23   Autism Sensory Friendly Film JUNGLE BOOK 10a
Apr. 24+ Wisconsin Health Literacy Summit Appleton WI
Apr. 25+ Plain Talk About Reading New Orleans LA
Apr. 26+ BOOST Conference Palm Springs CA
Apr. 26   Autism Sensory Friendly Film HUNTSMAN WINTER'S WAR 7p
Apr. 29+ WE LEARN Conference Lehman College Bronx NY
Apr. 30  Dia: El día de los niños/El día de los libros Díapalooza @ Public & School Libraries


Monday, March 28, 2016

Defund Libraries. Create a Nation of Fools.

Defund libraries. Create a nation of fools.
St Louis Post Dispatch:  3.27.2016 by the Editorial Board

Little did the Plainfield, Ill., Public Library District supporters know that the Americans for Prosperity had them in their sights.

By the time they found out that they had been targeted by a national political action committee opposed to taxes and government regulation, it was too late. The robocalls and misinformation were relentless, distributed by the influential conservative committee funded by Charles and David Koch.

Plainfield needed to raise $39 million to replace a 26-year-old library that no longer meets community needs. Thanks to the Koch brothers’ onslaught, the community of slightly fewer than 40,000 failed on March 15 to pass a bond issue and a property tax increase.

St. Louisans are facing a similar campaign regarding the city’s 1 percent earnings tax. Local financier and tax opponent Rex Sinquefield is spending $2 million to fight the tax, which raises about $160 million a year and accounts for a third of the city’s general revenue budget.

Voters who will decide on April 5 whether to continue the earnings tax should keep the Plainfield experience in mind. Taking away tax money needed to fund services — whether libraries, police or fire districts — cripples communities and hurts the people who live there READ MORE @

Bill to change library funding halted
A bill that would change funding for public libraries in Kansas has stalled after library advocates spoke against it.
McPherson Sentinel: 3.28.2016 by Josh Arnett

The *bill would make it optional for cities to fund public libraries. Currently, library funding is a requirement.

Opponents said if cities choose not to provide funds, libraries could be devastated and even closed down.  READ MORE @




everylibrary

Any library ballot initiative anywhere
matters to every library everywhere

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Literacy – Spanning the US: Utah Co UT :: Altus OK :: Mesa Co CO :: Centre Co PA :: Corona CA

@ProjectReadUtah
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READ MORE @

Having a relaxed, proud feeling and ready to vote are new treasures gained for Perla Galaz, a native of Mexico. Becoming a new citizen of the United States has given her much satisfaction and future promises.

“I am so happy and excited to be a new American,” said Galaz. “I have lived in the United States since 2007 when my husband Julio and I moved to Altus with our first son.”

Her husband and Perla both had completed college degrees in Mexico, but could not find jobs. They chose to move from Mexico straight to Altus where he had an aunt living, and Julio was able to get a job with Bar-S Foods.

That same year Perla contacted the Great Plains Literacy Council at the Altus Public Library to learn English. She said she knew very little English and needed to communicate with her health providers as she was pregnant. Lynne Collingwood volunteered to be her tutor and met with her once a week for about three years. Other jobs and family obligations kept her busy for several years after that tutoring.  READ MORE @

Mesa County Libraries Literacy Center Changing Lives for 30 Years
Western Slope: 3.08.2016 by Julia Maguire

Mesa County Libraries celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Literacy Center Tuesday.

Since its launch in 1986, the center has helped thousands of Mesa County residents improve their self-sufficiency and communication skills, inlcuding Eusebia Garza, who was one of the residents that said the literacy center changed her life.

Garza moved from Mexico to the United States in the 90's, determined to learn English Garza began working to improve her skills.

"Because if I learn I can help my community," said Garza.

It wasn't until 2003 when she came across the Mesa County Libraries Literacy Center.  At the time she didn't know much English, but when her tutor asked her what her goals were, she knew what she wanted to achieve.  READ MORE @

@MSLCLiteracy
Helping hands: Literacy skills result in better health and employment
Centre Daily: 3.07.2016 by Amy T. Wilson

Why did you decide to volunteer at Mid-State Literacy Council? When asked, one volunteer replied, “Because I know how important it is to be able to read.”

According to the census data, 11 percent of Centre County residents are illiterate. About 17,462 people have difficulty reading signs, instructions and job applications. They have difficulty opening a checking account, getting a job and reading to their children. Vulnerable, marginalized, at risk, they struggle.

The literacy council provides one-on-one tutoring and small classes for about 325 adults in Centre and Clearfield Counties. Trained volunteers share their skills by teaching reading, writing, math, English, basic computer and health literacy.
People helping people — you might be surprised by the results. About 225 trained volunteer tutors are teaching adults to read the instructions on medicine labels. Others are team-teaching classes, such as English for Doctor’s Visits, to help people describe symptoms and learn health care information. READ MORE @

Corona Library Hiding from Illiteracy
Inner Circle-Corona: 3.10.2016 by CityofCorona

The City of Corona Public Library is walking alongside adults in the community through the Adult Reading Assistance Program to put an end to adult illiteracy and restore confidence, hope, and self-respect during the process.

The Adult Reading Assistance Program encourages applicants to participate in a unique writing challenge sponsored by the Southern California Library Literacy Network. The challenge is coined as the Writer to Writer Challenge contest and presents adults learners with an opportunity to put their improving writing skills against others in programs throughout Southern California that are similar to the Adult Reading Assistance Program at the Corona Public Library.

For two years in a row, Corona’s program has yielded a runner-up in the contest. There are 4 levels, with one winner and two runners-up in each for a total of twelve honorees out of the 97 who applied — a wonderful showing for our program.  READ MORE @

Thursday, March 24, 2016

COABE Awards :: Adult Learner of the Year

COABE National Awards

There were many outstanding candidates for our national-level COABE Awards. Congratulations to this year's award, incentive grant, and scholarship winners, representing the best in our field!

Adult Learner of the Year
Margo Hudson, Seeds of Literacy, Ohio

Margo Hudson is passionate about learning. She received her GED in 2012 from Seeds of Literacy in Cleveland, Ohio, after 11 years of diligent preparation. Since graduating, Margo has tutored twice a week at Seeds, acting as a role model for students like herself. She continues to learn new skills in jewelry making, knitting, duct tape crafts, linedancing, candy making and music lessons for keyboard. She is an avid reader and works closely with an outreach ministry to young African-American men.

Margo is a very vocal champion for the power of adult learning. She works as a housekeeper at the United Club at Cleveland Hopkins Airport and has strong relationships with her customers, many of whom are high powered business people from around the country and the world. Through Margo, many of them have heard about how her life was changed through literacy. They have invited her to speak on their radio programs, written about her for publications, collected books and supplies for students at Seeds, and made donations in her honor.

Margo loves to travel the world with her husband, Dale Hernlund.

Press Releases
•       Margo Hudson Adult Learner of the Year 2016
•       Aurelia Garcia Adult Learner of the Year Runner Up 2016
•       Cung Hnin Adult Learner of the Year Runner Up 2016
•       Elida Tuchez Adult Learner of the Year Runner Up 2016
•       Pablo Carvallo Boschi Adult Learner of the Year Runner Up 2016
•       Patricia Harville Adult Learner of the Year Runner Up 2016


Sunday, March 20, 2016

Literacy – Spanning the US: New Jersey :: Stanislaus Co CA :: Newport News VA :: Topeka KS :: Cazenovia NY

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Carla Strong Andy de Groot

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