Literacy – Spanning the US :: Bartlesville OK :: Cazenovia NY :: Garden City KS

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

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Program’s Tutors Change Lives

Examiner Enterprise: 1.25.2019 by Roseanne McKee

A friend’s experiences in literacy tutoring sparked Dean Jones to try it. Jones decided to tutor in the Bartlesville Public Library’s English as a Second Language program several years ago.

Today, tutoring is an experience he wouldn’t exchange for anything in the world.

“I know how much she (Jones’ friend) enjoyed this, and since I have an academic background that includes languages and linguistics, I explored local opportunities here in Bartlesville,” Jones said.

Jones received the required training. He has been tutoring with the Literacy Council of Bartlesville for about 2 1/2 years.

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Jones is one of 35 tutor who have taken the Open Minds Tutor Training, designed by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries literacy office, Bartlesville Public Library Literacy Service Coordinator Karen Kerr-McGraw said.  READ MORE >>

Family Literacy Outreach Has Big Pay-Off

Oneida Dispatch: 1.29.2019

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Cazenovia Public Library Literacy Outreach has provided free literacy services to the community since 2006, offering programs in partnership with CazCares, Madison County Reads Ahead, and New Woodstock Free Library.

The Story Room Family Literacy Program, which operates out of CazCares Food Pantry, 101 Nelson St., provides valuable early literacy, adult literacy, and parenting programs to visitors. In 2018, the program experienced a notable increase in its numbers. In total, the Story Room recorded 788 children’s visits (100 more than the previous year) and 2,083 books distributed (500 more than the previous year).

“We are thrilled that so many children’s books are taken home to be enjoyed over and over again,” said Library Director Betsy Kennedy. “Studies show that the number of books in a home is a good indicator of a child’s readiness for Kindergarten.”

Each summer, CazCares opens an additional learning area for school-age children. The Story Room numbers were robust throughout the 2018 summer season as a result of the expansion and participation in the popular Summer Reading and Family Read-Aloud programs.

More than 200 parents consulted with Cazenovia Public Library literacy coordinators on reading habits, parenting topics, kindergarten readiness, and more.  READ MORE >>

Library, Neighborhood Learning Center Host Sessions To Practice English

Garden City Telegram: 1.31.2019 by Amber Friend   

  

Finney County residents from more than six countries gathered around a table at the Finney County Public Library Thursday afternoon, speaking out in new and native languages so they could share one conversation.

The subject? Birthdays.

Since October, the library and LiveWell Finney County Health Coalition’s Neighborhood Learning Center have hosted weekly Conversation Circles, an hour of informal discussion for adults to practice speaking English and learn about other residents’ cultures. The sessions are open to anyone and begin at 2 p.m. every Thursday, alternating between the library and learning center every other week.

Pam Tuller, library director, said she often had seen local residents new to English struggle with language barriers at the library. After looking into similar programs at other libraries, Tuller and her staff partnered with Birgit Lemke at the learning center, who was able to help recruit attendees and select relevant conversation topics.

“I think it’s a valuable service because ... it helps people understand that the library is for everybody. It’s not just for a certain culture or a certain economic standard. It is for everybody and anybody who wants to come to the library. Having a program that reaches out to the people that may not know that is really important to the community...” Tuller said.

By offering chances for people to learn together and from each other, the classes strengthen the community overall, Lemke said.  READ MORE >>