The Jacksonville Public Library’s Center for Adult Learning was recently recognized by the Division of Library and Information Services for a project targeting lower-level adult readers and their tutors. This initiative, Volunteers as Special Educators, was selected as the “FY 08-09 Exemplary Project” among those supported by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Volunteers as Special Educators has allowed the Jacksonville Public Library to expand services to adult basic education and English language learners by recruiting and training volunteer tutors. However, instead of utilizing workbooks traditionally used by adult literacy programs, this project developed new materials, teaching strategies and tutor-training modules based upon Orton-Gillingham principles. The project has received accolades for its innovative way of teaching syllable division and syllable types to tutors and students. Jacksonville Public Library staff will be demonstrating components of this new curriculum at the 2009 Florida Literacy Conference in Clearwater, FL.
The Jacksonville Public Library’s Center for Adult Learning first began providing reading instruction to adult learners in 1985. They currently offer small group and computer-assisted instruction in reading, math, pre-GED and English language skills to more than 800 adults annually. For more information about the Center for Adult Learning or the Volunteers as Special Educators project, please contact Sharon Jaskula at sharonh@coj.net.
