Library Use and Adult Literacy

Cool video on library use called, For My Daughter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROsp5u-Euog&feature=player_detailpage For more information about library literacy, contact Sandy Newell, adult literacy consultant with the Bureau of Library Development at sandy.newell@dos.myflorida.com

New Statistics on the Status of Babies

Want to know more about the status of babies in the U.S. go to the table just released on the 0 to 3 web site lists state by state at risk statistics.

Library of the Future--Maker Spaces

Some libraries are providing more customer friendly services which are accessible to low level readers.  The following summarizes a new trend --where libraries are moving from knowledge preserving to knowledge creation. These places are meant to be fun--even for adults, and since they foster making things--many adult learners may find the library a friendlier place for them to learn. Maker Spaces can also be centers for family literacy activities providing opportunities for Parent and Child Together Time.

The public library in Orlando is putting together a maker space. If your library is doing this, let us know. Or, you may want to talk with library staff to express your interest in partnering with the library as a volunteer literacy program. These spaces are very dependent on partnerships and volunteers.

 

Library of the Future

THE MAKINGS OF MAKER SPACES. By: Britton, Lauren, Library Journal, 03630277, 10/1/2012, Vol. 137, Issue 16

A Maker space refers to people coming together to create and share resources, knowledge, and "stuff."  It fosters a creation culture. The equipment and programming required is based on the purpose of the makerspace. The ideal maker space is meant to be fun!

"The biggest impediment to personal fabrication is not technical; it's already possible to effectively do it," Gershenfeld writes. "And it's not training; the just-in-time peer-to-peer model works as well in the field as at MIT. Rather, the biggest limitation is simply the lack of knowledge that this is even possible."

Bleiweis says that, in true Maker fashion, the library doesn't know where it's going next with its Maker space. They are allowing the space to evolve naturally.  Bleiweis says the library is there to provide the framework, not to be in charge. She says there is a shift from a librarian being the person who had all of the answers to the person who has questions and the ability to find the answers.

Susan Hildreth, director of IMLS. "We need to leverage what we know about learning and our trusted role as learning places to help prepare our visitors for success in today's digital world. Maker culture is one way for libraries to support innovation and creativity, using library space in ways that people both want and need. The IMLS stands ready to support libraries in this way."

R. David Lankes, professor and dean's scholar for New Librarianship at Syracuse University, writes in The Atlas of New Leadership, "Librarianship is not about artifacts, it is about knowledge and facilitating knowledge creation. So what should we be spending our precious resources on? Knowledge creation tools, not the results of knowledge creation."

Math Lessons and Literacy

The newest Mixing In Math newsletter is about activities librarians and parents can do with their children that focus on math activities.  This one is all about building and becoming an engineer. Tutors could build literacy lessons around the newsletter, and a parent could go home and replicate the activities with their child.  There is even a certificate for each activity that parents could give their children.

If you need to know more about the GED Math test, take a look at this fact sheet.  It has information on the calculator and links to other math sites on the Internet.

Complete our poll today... Let us know your training needs.  Also, add comments to our blog with more specifics.  Do you need to know about math and the GED?  Let us know.

September Newsletter

Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida
Literacy Florida! Inc.

Newsletter
September 2008

Contents: Board News, Regional Sessions, Member News, Family Literacy Tips, Calendar,

BOARD NEWS

New Name – Same Association
At their regular meeting in August, the Literacy Florida! Inc. (LFv) board voted to select a new name that better describes what members do. Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida is now the generic name for LFv. “We wanted the words “volunteers” and “adult” in our name because most of our members use volunteers to provide free reading and English language instruction for adults. We wanted our name to reflect this important work.” explained Sandy Newell, President of the association.

The new name takes effect immediately, but does not replace the official, Literacy Florida! Inc. name. “We plan to use both.” Newell went on to say. The header on all of documents like this newsletter will be, Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida, followed by Literacy Florida! Inc. in smaller print.

“Our vision and mission stays the same. We will continue to provide funding, technical assistance and training for organizations with the goal to have free literacy services provided by volunteers for adults in all of Florida’s 67 counties.”

Free Technical Assistance Sessions

A free technical assistance session will be provided in Port St. Lucie for volunteer literacy groups on Saturday, September 13, from 9 a.m. – Noon at Learn to Read of St. Lucie County, 809 Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida 34950, by board members of Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida. Jim Wilder, past president, surveyed groups in the area to learn their specific needs. As a result, the session will cover grant writing, recruitment and retention. For more information about the session, contact Jim Wilder, jimwbbbs@hotmail.com.

“We are continuing to hold our board meetings around the state so that we can help local groups,” said Jim Wilder. “Last year we were in Gainesville and Sarasota. We wanted to reach our southeastern members and thus scheduled the September 13 session in Port St. Lucie. Our next technical assistance session will be in Jacksonville in the spring.”

Next Board Meeting
The next face to face meeting of Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida will be Saturday, September 13 from 1 pm – 5 pm at Learn to Read of St. Lucie County, 809 Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida 34950. Members are welcome to attend all board meetings. We hold three face to face meetings yearly. One is always at our annual meeting during the Florida Literacy Conference. We have the rest of the meetings using conference calls.

New Grant Program
Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida announced the winners of their first round of grants at their annual meeting at the 2008 Florida Literacy Conference. They plan to have a second round of grants in 2009. For a list of winners...

Student Authors

Feature Member News

Lake County Library System Adult Literacy Program is proud to announce Tavares Public Library ESL learners are being published!

The Florida Literacy Coalition recently informed Tavares Public Library ESL students Gonzalo Hernandez, ‘My Adventures with English’ and Luz Angela Vasquez, ‘How I Learn’ that their stories have been selected for inclusion in the 2008 adult learner essay book Opening a New World. The book was unveiled at the Florida Literacy Coalition Annual Meeting at the Regal Sun Resort, Orlando in May, 2008. An electronic version of the book is available online at http://floridaliteracy.org/EssayBook08.pdf

Gonzalo has been working with a tutor since 2006, and Angela joined us in 2007. Since that time they have been working very hard to achieve their goals. To have the opportunity to have their stories published in a statewide book is beyond their dreams! We are so proud to have been able to support their efforts and assist them as they put their stories into words. They are amazing and represent the dedicated group of adult learners we have the fortune of working with on a weekly basis.

For more information about the Lake County Library System, Adult Literacy Program contact Erika L. Greene, Literacy Coordinator and Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida board member at 352-253-6183 or check out their web page at www.lakeline.lib.fl.us/adultliteracy
Greene said, “It is an honor for our students to be included in the Florida Literacy Coalition’s publication."

Established in 1985, The Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) promotes, supports and advocates for the effective delivery of quality adult and family literacy services in the state of Florida. As a statewide umbrella literacy organization and the host of Florida’s State Literacy Resource Center, FLC provides a range of services to support more than 300 adult education, literacy and family literacy providers throughout Florida.


More News from Our Members……

Literacy Council of Sarasota (LCS) New Staff: Salie O’Malley was named program manager for the Literacy Council of Sarasota this summer. She is managing the ESOL and Basic Literacy programs, initiatives for LCS, and has been a long-time LCS volunteer and member. The group also has a new position, Office Manager, filled by Tim Hartnett.

Indian River County Fundraising Ideas: Community residents will receive a bag of tea in a direct mail campaign along with a description of the Literacy Services of Indian River County and a request to donate money to support our cause. The program has a race/walk and love literacy luncheon scheduled for 2009. To learn more go to http://www.literacyservicesirc.org/SpecialEvents.asp

Literacy Council of Bonita Springs’ Moms and Tots program:
Twenty-one tots graduated August 15 from the Moms and Tots program sponsored by the Literacy Council of Bonita Springs which is in its fourth year. It is designed to teach English to Hispanic pre-school tots at the same time that their mothers are learning to understand, speak, read, and write the language. It started out in one location with a handful of moms and their children. Today, classes are held in seven locations, with more than 280 students. Susan Acuña, executive director of the Council, said that the significance of the ceremony was that all of the graduates “are ready to start school on an even level with their peers, confident of their English language skills.” To learn more go to http://www.bonitaliteracy.org/

The Alachua County Library District Literacy Directory for Gainesville
The library has an online directory which has current contact information for a variety of literacy programs serving children and adults in the Gainesville area. They published the directory with the help of a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant. Go to the directory at
http://www.aclib.us/index.php?site_area=community_information&page=literacy_directory

Expanded Role for FLC
Cuts in Regional Literacy Centers
The State Adult Literacy Resource Center Florida Literacy Coalition will be the State of Florida contact for volunteer based resources and information. The five Regional Adult Literacy Centers were discontinued as of June 30, 2008 by the Florida Department of Education. Through this centralized coordination, The State Adult Literacy Resource Center, which is the Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC), will serve as contact for capacity building, professional development and resource services. For additional information go to www.floridaliteracy.org.

Family Literacy Tips

Family Literacy Month
It is not too early for programs to begin planning for National Family Literacy Month held in November. This is your chance to recruit volunteers and get noticed. The National Center for Family Literacy has a helpful tip sheet and ideas at http://www.famlit.org and select National Family Literacy Day, which takes you to a variety of resources for National Family Literacy Day and Month!

One idea on this site is “Reading with Our Heroes” from a literacy program in
Madisonville, KY. At the local mall, guest readers included local firemen, policemen, the Mayor, Red Cross volunteers, ministers, nurses and the director of the Senior Citizens’ Center. Guest readers read their favorite stories, followed by parent and child interactive activities. During the event, children received free books and the parents received handouts and tips on reading with their children. Literacy programs could use events like this one to recruit volunteers, students and donations.

Parenting and the Internet
Research has proven that lessons tailored to student interests and goals are most effective. Tutors can use a variation of language experience to make any reading material part of a lesson. For example, parents who want to understand what their teens are doing online may appreciate lessons on Internet safety.

The manual, Parenting in the Media Age: Social Networking, published online by The National Institute for Media and the Family, can be used as a literacy lesson. Even though it is not written on a very low level, it can be made accessible with the help of a tutor who applies a variation of language experience. For example, a tutor could read the manual out loud to a student. Lower level students could repeat key points they wanted to share with their teenager. The tutor would write down their words and use it for lessons. Higher level students could write their key points with their tutor’s help. The lesson could be enhanced by a search of social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, Xanga, Friendster etc.) on the Internet. Their homework could be a discussion of key points between the parent and their teenager.

This is one of several manuals that can be downloaded at http://www.mediafamily.org/network_guides.shtml. Other manuals cover cell phones, emerging technologies, YouTube and more. You must subscribe to download the manuals, but there is no charge.

New Spanish Parenting Materials
The SPANISH VERSION of the free parent-child early literacy material titled On the Go is available on the web. It includes 14 activities designed to be used outside the home: in the car, while walking, during bus rides, etc. The activities encourage early language and literacy development from birth through preschool. These activities are appropriate for children with disabilities, as well as children who are developing typically.

To download materials go to www.walearning.com and click on the purple button that says "Free Parent Education Handouts" on the home page. Look for the “On the Go” files to download the material in PDF format.

Florida Adult and Family Literacy Month
In conjunction with Florida Adult and Family Literacy Month 2008, proclaimed by Governor Crist, there is Free Admission to all State Parks from Sunday, Sept 7 thorough Saturday, September 13 with any of the following: a library card, a library book, donation of a new or gently used family appropriate book. For more information go to www.floridastateparks.org.

Last year more than 1.3 million participated in the state park celebration. Individuals donated 10,000 books for literacy efforts.

LSTA Exemplary Awards
Two of Florida's library literacy programs will receive LSTA Exemplary Award plaques at the Florida Public Library Directors' Meeting on October 15, 2008 in Delray Beach. The Holmes County Public Library and the Palm Beach County Public Library implemented a statewide program called Read and Write Around Florida in 2007.

This program brings together low educated parents and their children to discuss Florida stories. They also use an online writing tool to capture their own family stories. This tool is on www.floridamemory.com where students and tutors can search for photos, audio and video recordings and lesson plans about Florida.

Read and Write Around Florida was a statewide program implemented in 2007-2008. It has three programs: a short story version targeting adult non-English speakers, a family literacy program and the online writing tool. If you want an electronic version of the how to manual e-mail Sandy Newell at snewell@dos.state.fl.us.

Calendar

September 2008 Florida Adult and Family Literacy Month

September 8, 2008 International Literacy Day

September 13, 2008 Technical Assistance Session in Port St. Lucie
Saturday: 9 - Noon

October 1 -4, 2008 ProLiteracy Conference, Little Rock, AK

October 2008 Health Literacy Month

November 1, 2008 National Family Literacy Day

November 2008 National Family Literacy Month


More About Us

OUR MISSON
The mission of Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida is to enhance and promote the abilities of individuals and organizations to provide direct and indirect literacy instruction to adults and families in need through volunteer service.

OUR VISION The ability to read, write and speak the English language shall be provided in all 67 counties of the State of Florida by trained literacy volunteers. These volunteers will equip adults and families with the tools necessary to solve the literacy problems encountered in daily life.

Join Today
Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida's membership year starts July each year. To become a member go to our Membership form

Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida
(Literacy Florida! Inc)
2925 Optimist Drive Suite A
Marianna, FL 32448
Telephone: 850-482-9296 Fax: 850-482-9297
literacyflorida@hotmail.com

Family Literacy Upcoming Training Opportunities

Family Literacy Continuing Education Opportunities in April and May 2008

Register for the Family Literacy Symposium next week in Daytona Beach

http://www.aceofflorida.org/

Click on Creative Connections yellow and turquoise icon at the bottom

Register for the Florida Literacy Conference in Orlando, Disney Villiage

http://www.floridaliteracy.org/

Registration extended to April 21, 2001

To Access Florida Family Literacy resources including a new Webinar/video broadcast last week

http://www.floridatechnet.org/famliteracy/

Tax Cuts Cause Brevard Library to Cut Literacy Program

One of the first casualties of Florida's statewide tax cut is the library's volunteer literacy program in Brevard county.

Camille Johnson asked the Florida Literacy Coalition to remove the library's Literacy Program from the Coalition Website last week. Johnson, Director of the Central Brevard Library and Reference Center and supervisor of the program, reported the cut was due to the property tax cuts required by the state this year.

Susan Buchanan, their former Adult Literacy Coordinator, retired in February 2007 after overseeing getting the Brevard program accredited by ProLiteracy. Susan also wrote the family literacy manuals for the new Read and Write Around Florida program which uses short stories to bring book discussions to adult learners who are parents and their school age children.