2002 Grant Recipients
August 2002
New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries
Janet M. Welch announced today that the New York State Library has awarded
$200,000 in 2002-03 State funds for 14 competitive Adult Literacy Library
Services Grants to 11 public libraries and 3 public library systems.
The grant projects will offer library-based literacy instruction and basic educational development opportunities for adults through some 45 local public libraries and branches across the State. Numerous community education and service agencies will partner with the libraries.
Brooklyn Public Library (Kings County) $12,000 - BPL Literacy Connections.
With community partner, Literacy, Inc., the library will recruit students and volunteer tutors, will promote their adult literacy services, and will develop an Interactive Outreach Database to serve as a hub for adult education referrals in Brooklyn. One purpose of the project is to increase public awareness of the library's role as a direct provider of literacy services.
Freeport Memorial Library (Nassau County) $6,550 - PREP: Prevocational Readiness Employment Program.
The library and its project partners, Freeport Family Literacy Program, Even Start, and the Freeport Public School District will train adults in pre-vocational skills needed for successful employment. Workshops, library collections, and a Spanish/English career counselor will all be provided by the grant.
Guernsey Memorial Library (Chenango) $18,937 - Yes! You Can: Resources for Adults with Learning Disabilities.
In partnership with Literacy Volunteers of America free public screening and testing for adults with learning disabilities (LD) will be offered at Guernsey Memorial Library and the other eight libraries in the county. (Afton Free Library, Bainbridge Free Library, Moore Memorial Library in Greene, New Berlin Library, Oxford Memorial Library, Sherburne Public Library, Smyrna Public Library, South New Berlin Free Library) In addition professional development workshops will be offered and library collections and referral resources for adults with learning disabilities will be updated and improved in each participating library.
Guilderland Public Library (Albany) $10,618 - New Connections @ the GPL: Linking ESL Students.
The Library will sponsor English language conversation/discussion groups in conjunction with the Mohawk/Hudson chapter of Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. Building on last year's success, the Library will recruit and train tutors and will provide post-training, professional support to tutors who work with English as Second Language students.
Hempstead Public Library (Nassau) $20,000 - Numbers/Talk.
The Library's English Conversation class will use a video series, "Ingles sin Barreras", to help Spanish speaking newcomers. In collaboration with the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association learners will also be prepared for the new mathematics portion of the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) exam using calculators to simulate the test.
Lockport Public Library (Niagara) $5,744 - Computers for Adult Learners.
Together with Literacy Volunteers of America-Niagara County, the Library will introduce tutors to teaching resources that will help student learn to speak, read, and write in English. Computer workstations with instructional software will be installed to provide opportunities for computer-assisted instruction for adults in basic literacy and English as Second Language programs.
Mahopac Public Library (Putnam) $5,187 - Better Than Basic.
This grant will enable the Library and Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) to train tutors from Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester Counties in the Davis Dyslexia Correction Program method of working with adults who have learning disabilities. Tutors will be able to work with LVA clients who have previously not been served by the Library's literacy program. New materials and techniques will be made available through the grant.
Monroe County Library System (Monroe) $20,000 - GED 2002.
The 2002 General Equivalency Diploma (GED) exam requires new knowledge and skills for teachers as well as students. In collaboration with the Monroe County Library System Literacy Services Advisory Committee which includes five county and city literacy providers, the Library developed this program to train its staff on the changes in the new GED. It will provide tutors and students with new study resources and will promote these new resources through community literacy providers and through its own promotional campaign.
The New York Public Library, The Branch Libraries (New York) $20,000 - ESOL Classes at Chatham Square.
The New York Public Library will offer six evening classes in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at the Chatham Square Regional Branch Library, the busiest branch library in Manhattan. Immigrants from many countries will be served including people from China, Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. In addition to the contract with the Riverside Language Program, the grant will help the Library to provide classroom space, library orientations, and program promotion.
Olean Public Library (Cattaraugus) $14,055 - Login for Literacy.
Computer literacy and technology skills will be taught to adults with low literacy and their families. Working with Literacy Volunteers of Cattaraugus County, Inc., the Library will establish computer learning stations. Adults will have access to increase their own literacy level and improve job skills as well as work toward personal goals to help children with homework and manage household needs.
Oneida Public Library (Oneida) $17,950 - Project Read: In New Directions.
Building on the success of earlier Project Read programs, the Library will add ESOL (English for Speakers of other Languages) classes and introduce literacy training to Even Start and Head Start home visitor staff. With collaborators from each program the Library will add writing tutors to BOCES GED program and work with the Prime Time Family Reading Program reading and discussion groups. A one-day Literacy Conference is planned for late in the project year.
Queens Borough Public Library (Queens) $12,778 - Easy to Find/Easy to Read: Books for Basic Needs.
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes offered to Queens area immigrants will be supplied with basic education materials for class registrants. Twenty branch libraries will offer materials in addition to the six Queens Library Adult Learning Centers that provide Basic Education and ESOL instruction.
Suffolk Cooperative Library System (Suffolk) $20,000 - LVA @ Middle Country Public Library.
The Library System and Literacy Volunteers of America Suffolk County will develop a Regional Adult Literacy Center in the Middle Country Public Library. The center will become a part of the Library's Center for Business and Careers which includes workforce preparation, career counseling, citizenship, computer instruction, ESOL and GED classes.
Westchester Library System (Westchester) $16,181 - Tech Tools for Learning Differenced/Disabled Adults.
Adults with learning disabilities and tutors who work with them will have access to technological tools that will help improve literacy skills. Partnering with the Literacy Volunteers of Westchester County, the Lower Hudson Valley Regional Technology Center and the White Plains Public Library, training sessions will be offered to teach the use of specialized software and assistive devices. A professional collection, publicity, referrals and informational programs for tutors and agency staff are other components of the project.