Collection Primer for Adult Ed - The ABC's of Adult Ed

The ABC's of Adult EdLibrary Journal: June 1, 2010 by Lucy Roehrig

According to the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy it is estimated that 93 million adults in the United States have basic or below basic literacy skills. Those individuals found most lacking in literacy skills were adults living in poverty, adults lacking a high school diploma, seniors and the elderly aged 65 and older, the more than one million incarcerated adults, and foreign-born adults who came to this country at age 19 or older. The struggle to read and write greatly increases the difficulty of finding a job in today's tough market.

Statistics from the National Commission on Adult Literacy indicate that 80–90 million U.S. adults today—about half of the adult workforce—do not have the basic education and communication skills required to get, or advance in, jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage. Future job growth, according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics will be in professional sectors that require postsecondary education or training, such as computer systems, health care, and social work. About 40 percent of job openings over the next decade will require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree, and the major decline will be in the manufacturing industries, where many of the adults with low to no literacy would otherwise be employed. The job outlook for people who can't read well is grim.

Attracting challenged readers

Libraries are an essential component in assisting adult basic education students, as well as in providing up-to-date materials to help them improve themselves. But adults who cannot read or struggle with reading are some of the hardest to reach for any library.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Some challenged readers may be intimidated by librarians and the library itself. Others may not perceive that illiteracy is a problem until they face a situation such as the loss of a job, the need to help their child with homework, or an emergency that makes them aware of this deficit in their education.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Libraries as learning environments

Creating a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for learning is especially important to bringing the adult basic education student and tutor into the library. Many libraries have a literacy center, either within their community or in the building; others offer on-site tutoring for adults, or at least space for tutors to meet with students. Family literacy programs are also quite popular within libraries and schools.

6 6 6 6 6 6

A collection primer for adult ed

Adult Basic Ed Students
For the Tutor
Reference
Going on to Higher Education
AV MaterialPeriodicals
Free Adult Ed Websites
Adult Literacy Sites

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Consult the National Center for Family Literacy for more information on starting a center in your area. If you are looking for a place that offers literacy assistance for any age group, go to the National Institute for Literacy's literacy directory.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Lastly, if you are interested in more information on professional materials and web sites about literacy, please see Paul Deane's “Literacy Defined” (LJ 9/1/04;).