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Literacy

Illinois State Library, ISL E-news, Literacy
Talking Book and Braille Service Grand Reopening
February 27th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

The Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS) will host a reception next Friday, March 2, to mark its grand “reopening.” Last year TBBS completed a move from a stand-alone building in downtown Springfield into the State Library at Second and Monroe Streets. The move is designed to make it easier for TBBS to address the needs of Illinois’ 28,000 print-disabled patrons.

The event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in the atrium of the Illinois State Library. Prior to the reception, TBBS staff will offer tours of their new offices at 1 p.m. A special guest at the reception will be Roy Avers, narrator of more than 1,500 Talking Books, including such classics as The Prince of Tides, The Sea Wolf, Ken Burns’ The Civil War, The Winds of War and War and Remembrance.

For more information about the event, call 800-665-5576, opt. 5.
ISL E-news, Literacy
Literacy Spotlight: Black Hawk College
February 24th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

This week the Illinois State Library spotlights Black Hawk College in Moline.

Within six weeks of arriving in the United States from Togo, West Africa, a father enrolled in English as a Second Language classes at Black Hawk College. Five years later, he had progressed so well that he was studying at Black Hawk to be a Pharmacy Technician.

He also began to do work study with Black Hawk’s Family Literacy Program, and encouraged his wife to attend with their two youngest children. During the summer, their school-age son also attended. As part of the work study, the father translated and tutored in the Family Literacy program until his graduation as a pharmacy technician from Black Hawk College. He is now employed as a pharmacy technician and has gone on to pursue his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy at Western Illinois University. During this time, he also attained U.S. citizenship. He has inspired other learners in the Family Literacy class, and is proof that literacy programs provide opportunities in America.
ISL E-news, Literacy
Literacy Spotlight: Mercy Housing Lakefront
February 17th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

This week the Illinois State Library spotlights Mercy Housing Lakefront in Chicago.

Working one-on-one with a tutor has helped one adult learner make tremendous improvement in her learning and reading skills, her confidence and personal development. In addition to working with her tutor, she joined the creative writing group that meets weekly at Mercy Housing Lakefront. One of her proudest moments in life came when she wrote her first story. Her determination and accomplishments exemplify the significance of adult literacy. Her goal now is to work towards obtaining her GED in the near future.
General, Grants, Illinois State Library, ISL E-news, Literacy
Adult Literacy Grant Application Now Available
February 14th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?
Applications are now being accepted for FY2013 Adult Literacy Grants. Application due date is April 16, 2012.

The grant application for the Adult Literacy Grant Program contains three separate literacy grant categories of services, including:
- Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Programs utilizes volunteer tutors to provide one-on-one instruction for adults who want to improve their reading, math, writing and language skills.
- Family Literacy Programs equip parents and their children, together and separately, to improve their basic reading, math, writing, and language skills.
- The educational needs of working adults are met through Workplace Skills Enhancement Programs, which provide on-site basic skills learning opportunities at their workplace.
Find the application, instructions, and other other information at the Illinois State Library website.
ISL E-news, Literacy
Literacy Spotlight: Lewis & Clark Community College
February 10th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

This week the Illinois State Library spotlights Lewis & Clark Community College in Ina.

The Family Literacy program at L & C has made a significant impact on the lives of a twenty-year-old mother and her son. She joined the program while trying to put her life back together after a disfiguring domestic violence incident. The father of her unborn child shot her while she was pregnant, and this devastating event caused her to drop out of high school. While she attended literacy classes in Ina, her three-year-old son participated in the child education class.

Slowly, she began to open up to her counselor and teachers in the program. She eventually formed a friendship with a fellow student and began joining in class discussions and offering suggestions to others in the parenting class. After several months, the student began working with a math tutor, increased her reading score by three grade levels, and passed the U.S. and Illinois Constitution exams. She obtained a library card and checks out books, movies, exercise DVDs and music CDs. This has opened up a whole new world for her and her son. She interacts more with her child and is much more involved in his activities. With the help of the family literacy program, this student is working to meet her goals and overcome her troubled past..
Grants, Literacy, School Libraries, Youth Services
Grants Available from Dollar General
February 6th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?
Dollar General has several grants your library may be eligible for. For more information on the grants below and to apply online, visit the Dollar General website.

Dollar General Summer Reading Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012

Dollar General Literacy Foundation Summer Reading Grants provide funding to local nonprofit organizations and libraries to help with the implementation or expansion of summer reading programs. Programs must target Pre-K through 12th grade students who are new readers, below grade level readers or readers with learning disabilities.

Dollar General Adult Literacy Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012

Dollar General Literacy Foundation Adult Literacy Grants award funding to nonprofit organizations that provide direct service to adults in need of literacy assistance. Organizations must provide help in one of the following instructional areas:
- Adult Basic Education
- General Education Diploma Preparation
- English Language Acquisition
Dollar General Family Literacy Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation Family Literacy Grants provide funding to family literacy service providers. The Foundation uses the federal government’s definition of family literacy when reviewing grant applications. Organizations applying for funding must have the following four components:Adult Education Instruction
- Children’s Education
- Parent and Child Together Time (PACT)
- Parenting Classes
Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants
Deadline: May 16, 2012

Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants provide funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:
- Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
- Purchasing new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives
- Purchasing books, materials or software for literacy programs
ISL E-news, Literacy
Literacy Spotlight: Morton College
February 6th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

This week the Illinois State Library spotlights Morton College in Cicero.

For the past year, an adult learner has been working one-on-one with her volunteer tutor through Morton College’s Project CARE. She has learned how to use e-mail and Facebook to communicate with her tutor, friends and family. She is also getting help with valuable life skills such as writing a resume, filling out online job applications and interviewing for jobs.

This adult learner has a long-term goal of taking Early Childhood Education classes to pursue a career working with young children. With the help of her tutor, she is studying to achieve a score on the college placement test that will allow her to take a developmental English class. She continues to work on a portfolio of her writing samples, and her tutor plans to put these into a book so the learner can see her progress over time. Both student and tutor look forward to her achieving her goal of working with young children.
ISL E-news, Literacy
Literacy Spotlight: Association House of Chicago
January 27th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

This week the Illinois State Library spotlights Association House of Chicago.

A teenage couple and their baby joined the high school family literacy program operated by Association House. The couple wanted to complete their high school education and the baby attended the child education program while both parents attended classes. The parents studied hard, attended class regularly and sought additional academic help and support from the child education program staff. Staff helped the parents study for tests, proofread papers and complete research projects. Both parents attended PACT time (Parents and Children Together) before and after school, and faithfully attended and participated in weekly parent education workshops.

Neither parent had ever been to a library before they began participating in the family literacy program. They are now library cardholders and attend the library on their own time. The mother graduated from high school last year, the first in her family to receive a high school diploma, and plans to work while attending college. The father will graduate this year.

They are both committed to ensuring that their daughter continues to learn throughout her life with their support. Learning has truly become a family affair.
ILA Updates, Literacy, Reading, School Libraries
iREAD 2013 Summer Reading Program
January 26th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

The theme for the Illinois Library Association’s iREAD 2013 Summer Reading program is Have Book, Will Travel! Work has already begun on the 2013 iREAD Resource Guide, and the ILA is looking for ideas to share with other librarians and educators who use the iREAD program. The Resource Guide contains crafts, activities, games, art, reading lists, and much more for children, teens, and adults. If you have a project or resource to share, send it to the ILA. The deadline for submissions is February 28. Click here to submit your ideas.

Over the past 30 years, iREAD has grown to become a leader of Summer Reading Program development by providing libraries with all of the resources they need to promote, launch, and execute great reading programs. Increasingly, iREAD themes and programs are being used year-round in schools and literacy programs. For more information, call 877-565-1896 or visit here.
General, ISL E-news, Literacy
Literacy Spotlight: Sauk Valley Community College
January 20th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

This week the Illinois State Library spotlights Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon. A man in his early twenties was unemployed and struggled to fill out job applications. He contacted Project VITAL at the college and requested a tutor who could meet with him at the local library. When he began working with his tutor, he could barely write a simple sentence. After just six months of working two days a week with his tutor, he was able to get a job. He continues to improve his reading and writing skills and is planning to enroll in GED classes.

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Literacy

Illinois State Library, ISL E-news, Literacy

Talking Book and Braille Service Grand Reopening

ISL E-news, Literacy

Literacy Spotlight: Black Hawk College

ISL E-news, Literacy

Literacy Spotlight: Mercy Housing Lakefront

General, Grants, Illinois State Library, ISL E-news, Literacy

Adult Literacy Grant Application Now Available

ISL E-news, Literacy

Literacy Spotlight: Lewis & Clark Community College

Grants, Literacy, School Libraries, Youth Services

Grants Available from Dollar General

ISL E-news, Literacy

Literacy Spotlight: Morton College

ISL E-news, Literacy

Literacy Spotlight: Association House of Chicago

ILA Updates, Literacy, Reading, School Libraries

iREAD 2013 Summer Reading Program

General, ISL E-news, Literacy

Literacy Spotlight: Sauk Valley Community College