In a three-year project which began in 1965, the Cleveland Public Library established three Reading Centers for functionally illiterate adults. The purpose of the Centers was not to teach reading, but to develop already existent reading skills in disadvantaged adults. The staffing process, the establishment of the Centers, the attempts to identify…

Literacy Volunteers of America is described as a grassroots effort that has grown to national proportions. An overview of its development and case studies of library literacy projects in various states are provided, and recommendations are made for continued and future library participation in the literacy effort. (EM)

Before specific role of the public library in eradicating illiteracy can be determined, each library must determine the extent of the problem in its community; determine what is already being done; and analyze the library's resources. Specific involvement and goals must be determined for services to teachers and students. (EJS)

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…

Discussion of program established in 1977 by the Queens Borough Public Library and Literacy Volunteers of New York to combat the problem of adult illiteracy notes recruitment, training and retention of tutors, student intake procedure, cooperation with community organizations, special programs (math, writing, adult basic education), and program…

This handbook is designed to provide a comprehensive reference source about adult illiteracy for Michigan public librarians, whether or not they currently work with local literacy councils. Introductory material provides listings of members of the Michigan State Legislative Council and Library of Michigan Board of Trustees, and a listing of the…

The objectives of this three day seminar were to increase the knowledge about the functionally illiterate adult and his characteristics, research about non-reading adults, materials available for them, public library services and programs for illiterate adults as well as basic adult education activities offered by schools and other community…

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)

The result of interviews with literacy coordinators and library directors of literacy programs in representative libraries throughout Pennsylvania, this document encourages local libraries to develop adult literacy activities as an integral component of basic library service and provides program planners with guidelines and suggestions for…

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…

This guide provides suggestions and materials for the development and implementation of a Health Literacy Forum to be coordinated by a local, county, or state Department of Public Health. Health Literacy Forums, already implemented in several cities and states, have increased awareness about literacy skills of U.S. adults and health implications.…

This overview of intergenerational and family literacy programs in the United States consists of five sections, a bibliography, and four appendices. Section 1 presents background information and expectations for programs and describes the target populations and program designs and administration. Section 2 describes the research base and the…

This document addresses issues related to the problem that many U.S. citizens do not have literacy skills adequate to meet their needs and ambitions. The first section of the paper provides an overview of the problem, discussing how to define literacy, how it has been measured, some estimates of how many people are illiterate, who they are and…

This final performance report for Project VIA (Volunteers In Action), a collaborative program between the El Paso Public Library and El Paso Community College (EPCC), begins with a section that provides quantitative data. The next section compares actual accomplishments to the following project goals for 1992-93: (1) to recruit and train 140…

The first of two conferences on adult literacy focused on what needs to be done to give all nonreading U.S. adults the chance to learn to read, write, and do basic math. The number of adults seeking help in learning basic skills far exceeds the capacity of current adult literacy services to help them. Barriers to remedying the problem include lack…