At Literacy NJ, the decline in our basic literacy services has caused us to reevaluate and reinvent our program. The cornerstone of our new plan is to offer an 8-week vestibule program called Steps to Success for new basic literacy students, focused on goal setting, crucial digital skills, and the development of independent learning strategies. We…

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…

Paradoxically, for reasons both philosophical and practical, public libraries are uniquely positioned to assist the 72 million Americans who, by virtue of being illiterate or marginally literate, are not ordinarily library users. A formal link between libraries and literacy can be traced back to the 1920s when the American Library Association…

This publication highlights sixty-two outstanding projects originally funded under the Library Services and Construction Act. Designed as a descriptive, annotated guide, the catalog shares information about library programs selected from 34 states and territories to exemplify some of the diverse services stimulated by Federal funds. These…

A project established a lending library of literacy materials for Tri-County Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. (OIC) students who attended classes at over 20 satellite locations in Dauphin and Perry Counties, Pennsylvania. A student survey determined the types of materials of most interest. Results were compiled into categories such as:…

The Appalachian Adult Education Center (AAEC) conducted a study of the services of two institutions, public libraries and public schools, serving disadvantaged adults in cooperation. The study was conducted at four AAEC centers in Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The problems explored included information needs of…

Describes Houston Public Library's nontraditional programs for cultural minorities which address four areas of library services: outreach, information and referral, and neighborhood information centers; foreign language collection development; coordinated programming; and adult basic education. Ethnic groups that constitute the library's clientele…

Description of the California Literacy Campaign instituted by California State Library highlights statewide commitment to provide public library services to help adults attain English-language ability and local projects. Examples of several projects (e.g., Modoc County Adult Tutorial Program, Tri-City Literacy Coalition), and community-based…

Reviews twentieth century programs to enhance literacy outside the schools and describes the activities of a one-day literacy planning session by the Region V Library Cooperative--a not-for-profit multi-type library membership organization of academic, institutional, public school and special libraries. A list of additional readings is provided.…

This book promotes a library-based curriculum for teaching reading and suggests a wide variety of books to use with new readers. It provides an outline of basic skills that literacy students must master to become good readers. It also suggests numerous skill-building activities for teachers to develop using the words and ideas derived from…

This report documents the progress made by the South Carolina State Library in providing volunteer programs and services for illiterate adults, promoting the cooperative development and planning of literacy services throughout the state, and assisting local literacy programs with tutor training, program development, management, and recordkeeping…

This examination of library involvement in adult literacy programs argues that public libraries had their roots in widespread concern for literacy in the 17th century and traces the development of such programs to the present. Changing definitions of literacy are summarized, and current issues in adult library services are discussed. (EM)

This report on one of the activities of the Maine State Library Literacy Project, which was funded in 1986 through the Library Literacy Program, Title VI of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA), presents discussions of literacy, adult new readers, literacy programs in libraries, serving adult new readers, selecting materials, and how…

The first article discusses the role of the library in promoting adult literacy and issues that will be addressed at the May 1990 State Library Literacy Forum in Alexandria. The primary issue explored is the need for cooperative planning and leadership at the state level. The second describes the experiences of a volunteer literacy tutor. (CLB)

Describes American Library Association's involvement in adult and literacy education from support for adult education programs to encourage reading in the 1920s to more recent emphasis on services to illiterates, the disadvantaged, and nontraditional users. Continued support from the association for literacy programs is expected to continue…