Library Sponsoring Literacy Programs

A literacy program for adults begins this week at the city’s five libraries.

The new program, Literacy Is For Everyone, or LIFE, is funded by a grant from the California State Library. It is the first time the city has received this grant money for an adult literacy program, said Kevin Moore, Central Library manager.

Over the next four years, the city will receive about $100,000 a year in grant money for Anaheim’s first library-sponsored program, she said.

Moore said the need for the free program was reinforced recently when a local business sought literacy training for some of its employees.

“A quarter of their work force were not literate. It opened my eyes. There was this group of residents who are hard-working, but don’t have the skills to improve their lives,” she said.

More than 50 adults are interested in becoming students, but more tutors are needed.

Volunteer tutors are required to participate in a training workshop. An orientation will be held July 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Euclid Branch Library, 1340 S. Euclid St. A four-part training workshop will begin July 7 at the Euclid Branch Library. The remaining sessions will be July 9, July 14 and July 16. All sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteer tutors must commit to the program for six months and be available one to two hours a week.

The first tutoring session was held this month, resulting in nine volunteers for the program.

One-on-one tutoring will be offered to English-speaking adults.

Future plans include offering the program at other community sites and opening a self-paced learning center at which students can enhance their literacy skills on a computer.

Information: (714) 229-0435.