Literacy – Spanning North America :: Rock Co WI :: Potsdam NY :: Plymouth MA :: Lethbridge AB

@theliteracyconnection

Literacy Connection to close but is searching for a partner to take over

Gazette Extra: 11.16.2016 by Jim Dayton

The final chapter of The Literacy Connection will soon come to an end, but the Janesville-based nonprofit could have an epilogue if it finds a partner organization to take over.

For 45 years, The Literacy Connection has served northern Rock County adults who want to improve their reading skills or job prospects. But dwindling volunteer numbers and depleted funding sources made it difficult to continue, and the organization will close its office Dec. 15, President Rick Mueller said.

“Even though we've had very strong support from our sponsors … it became very evident that having a small standalone office just wasn't going to work for us,” he said. -“We just weren't able to do the things we needed to do with the staff we had here.”

The adult literacy organization announced the news in a statement posted Tuesday on its Facebook page. Many of the group's long-time tutors are getting older, making it harder for them to volunteer. Its two part-time employees could not find enough replacements, he said.

The United Way and other grant programs have supported The Literacy Connection for many years, and that funding has been crucial to success, Mueller said. But the funding application process requires nonprofits to meet certain benchmarks to demonstrate their effectiveness, he said.  READ MORE @

Newly formed Literacy is For Everyone program to hold dedication Saturday at Potsdam Public Library

North County Now: 11.17.2016

The newly formed literacy program Literacy is For Everyone (LIFE), will hold a dedication on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. at the Potsdam Public Library, 2 Park St.

Literacy of Northern New York ended in September because its parent organization did not believe the organization was financially viable.

In response, the library has adopted the LNNY adult literacy program and its one employee, Maria Morrison.

That program now joins the library’s children’s and digital literacy programs under one literacy umbrella, overseen by Sarah Sachs, Public Services Manager and staffed by Bobby Gordon, Public Computer Center Coordinator and Maria Morrison, Literacy Program coordinator.

@plymouthlit

Expanding the Literacy Program at the Public Library

95.5WATD: 11.16.2016 by Charles Mathewson

Plymouth Library Trustees presented to selectmen the library’s chief four goals for the next five years and expanding the literacy program topped the list.

Library director says the program is in high demand and unique to the region. 

The Plymouth Library offers classes in English as a second language, high school equivalency test preparation, job placement and college entrance assistance. The -Plymouth program is so much like a school, it’s funded by the state’s education department. 

“We are funded by the department of elementary and secondary education which is not a common occurrence in public libraries,” said Harris.

Plymouth Library offers its literacy program to the entire region. The main branch of the Plymouth Public Library is located on South Street, Exit 5 off Route 3.

Read On literacy program gets grant

Lethbridge Herald: 11.17.2016

When Yudith San Miguel Ramos moved to Lethbridge from Cuba in 2008, she spoke very little English. It was a time she calls “very stressful and challenging.”

Thanks to the Read On Adult Literacy Program at the Lethbridge Public Library, she was able to gain the literacy skills she needed to thrive in her new home.

Now more adults and families will receive the literacy and learning skills they need with a $260,000 grant for the Read On program, announced by Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt on Thursday.

It’s the largest grant offered through the government’s Community Adult Learning Program. The CALP assists 130 organizations province-wide to help Albertans access foundational learning opportunities, such as reading, writing and occupational training.

“About one out of every five Albertans struggles with literacy skills, so it’s really important to provide the kinds of programs, like the Read On program here, to give =Albertans with those low literacy skills the opportunity to improve their skills so they can move on to bigger and better things,” said Schmidt.

Hearing stories from people whose lives have been changed validates the need for investment in these programs, he said.  READ MORE @