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)

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…

Discusses the library's responsibility to society to confront adult illiteracy and suggests that libraries should provide computers and special software to support adult basic education programs. Available educational systems and software are described, and sources to aid in selection are identified. (10 references) (CLB)

Noting that one of the three major themes for the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services is the role of the library in literacy education, this digest begins by describing how national awareness of the problem has led to legislation, both at the state and federal level, to fund new literacy programs and expand existing…

This report reviews the accomplishments of a literacy tutoring program--"Independence Through Literacy"--which was funded in its first year by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Title VI Library Literacy. This program had as its objective to demonstrate that literacy should be included among the basic skills that are…

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 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 article discusses the problem of adult illiteracy and offers guidelines to assist librarians in developing adult literacy programs based on results of the Los Angeles Public Library's Library Adult Reading Project. Federal and state funding, partnerships, plan of action, personnel, materials, operations, and equipment are covered. (EJS)

This final performance report for the Bay County (Florida) Public Library literacy project begins with a section that provides quantitative data about: (1) the size of the community served; (2) type of project; (3) targeted populations; (4) tutoring methods used; (5) measurement of student progress; (6) printed items produced; and (7) total…

The Kountze Public Library in Texas conducted a program using cross-age tutoring as a strategy to strengthen family reading skills, to develop a collection of educational literacy materials in the library, and to disseminate results to the public. During the 1-year program, 29 volunteers participated, with 14 trained as tutors. Tutors worked 64…

Examination of the library-learner dynamic within an environment of change defines literacy broadly and relates it to educational design. Libraries are placed within overall structure of the national education system and resulting cooperative efforts are described, as well as attributes of the adult and related stages of life development. (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)

This final performance report for the Sanford Library Association's Project Literacy U.S. (PLUS) begins with quantitative data. Background information on the community is then provided. Actual accomplishments are compared to project objectives for 1991-92 in the following areas: (1) continuation of individualized literacy instruction or promotion…