Library-based adult literacy programs rely on volunteers to provide tutoring services to adult learners. A high percentage of volunteer tutors are matched with a reading-disabled adult literacy learner. Although all tutors are required to complete preservice tutor training, there is a limited amount of research that documents whether they utilize…

Being literate empowers individuals to be effective consumers, to be informed about lifestyle options, to read aesthetically for relaxation and enjoyment and to further their knowledge of people and places that can enable them to participate more fully in communities. However, there are limited literacy opportunities and programs specifically…

This pilot study assessed the educational interests and needs of a group of older, low-literate adults with the eventual goal of developing computer-assisted literacy programs specifically designed for older adults. Subjects, 10 women and 1 man aged 60 to over 80 years who were members of a center for older adults and who were already working with…

This project was developed to increase attendance at inservices and workshops that are provided to continue the training of tutors in the South Pittsburgh office of the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council (GPLC). A questionnaire was designed and mailed to all (about 20) tutors in the area to obtain input about how prepared they felt, and whether…

This guide resulted from a project conducted to develop a process for evaluating adult basic education (ABE) tutoring programs. Through a literature search and discussions with ABE practitioners in Canada, a list of 17 statements of good practice was formulated. These statements were used as a basis for the development of a program questionnaire,…

The Lycoming County (Pennsylvania) Literacy Project hosts a tutor training workshop approximately four times per year to certify tutors to teach its learners. Previously, the information provided for the tutors at this workshop consisted of nearly 100 handouts distributed at random. Comments and observations indicated that having such a large…

A study was conducted of three New Hampshire library literacy tutorial programs to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the adult tutorial programs, staff development, and training needs, and the role of the public library in promoting adult literacy services. Data were gathered through a two-phase process begun in October 1993. A survey was…

This document contains the final report of Project PAL (Pennsylvania Adult Literacy), designed to address staff development needs at a Pennsylvania adult literacy center, and three manuals: a tutor training resource manual for use by coordinators in developing a 9.5 hour tutor-training session, a tutor handbook for volunteers, and a coordinator's…

This review of the California Literacy Campaign (CLC), a statewide, community-oriented, library-based program funded under the California Library Services Act, is designed to determine the extent to which CLC has been effective in carrying out its mission, the manner in which increased effectiveness may be achieved, and ways in which program…

This final performance report for the Elizabeth Jones Library literacy project begins with a section that provides quantitative data. The next section compares actual accomplishments to the following project goals and related objectives for fiscal year 1992: (1) to provide a versatile workplace literacy program useful to any business in the…

A two-phase study examined the incidence and nature of dropout and progression from basic skills programs in England and Wales. During the first (retrospective) phase, data about 1,920 students' attendance/dropout patterns and reasons' for finishing/leaving their basic skills programs were obtained from 82 tutors (of more than 300 contacted) in 8…

A Tutor Self-Assessment Inventory (TSAI) was developed from the literature on reading, adult basic education, literacy education, and comments of professionals in order to provide the volunteer literacy tutor an opportunity to compare his or her self-perceptions regarding tutoring abilities and knowledge to attributes and competencies considered…

This document, which is intended for use by adult literacy programs in Saskatchewan, Canada, consists of three questionnaires. The questionnaires were developed under the guidance of Saskatchewan's 11-member Good Practice Task Force to give adult literacy programs an opportunity to reflect on their current initiatives, identify their strengths,…

The progress made by adults in dedicated mainstream basic skills provision in England and Wales and factors associated with students' progress were examined. Of the 2,135 students from 71 colleges of further education and local education authorities who took the reading pretest, 1,224 (57%) took the reading posttest. Writing scripts were received…