In Illinois, the Family Literacy Grant Program funded by the Illinois State Library, has been operating since 1992 with a five component model. The fifth component is library services.  The grant is a partnership program in which at least three agencies are required to participate.  Those three agencies are an adult literacy organization, a child-at-risk organization and a public library.  In the grant application, each component must be addressed by detailing specific outcomes and the activities which will enable the program's learners to achieve those outcomes. 

To answer your questions, this program mandates the participation of public libraries in the family literacy effort.  The libraries are considered integral partners in the programming.  The library services offered formally to the learners include learning about the library; how to use it, what the resources and materials are (from foreign language books, to videos, to internet access), and what programs are (like lap sits and book discussions).  The services are tailored to the needs of the learners with the overall goal being that the families become familiar and comfortable with the library so that they will use it independently.  

This individual tailoring of programs defines the level of library participation. Some programs move slowly toward understanding the social service, multi lingual needs of family literacy participants while others leap in enthusiastically and creatively.  The strengths of including the library in family literacy are many.  Most importantly, the library brings the raw materials of reading, both the sheer size of the collection and the knowledge of the librarians into the reach of these new readers and new immigrants.  Libraries can offer a powerful welcome to the reading world.  On the other hand, there may be a cultural disconnect between many highly educated librarians and library patrons and the socioeconomic level of family literacy participants.  And, in these days of tight budgets, the family literacy program may just be one more responsibility loaded onto an already overworked librarian.  In the successful programs, the learning is a two-way street and the library staff is enthusiastic and willing.  

To answer your last question, I am a librarian and in each of these funded programs there is at least one librarian participating.  Good luck with your project and feel free to contact me outside the list if you want more information on our Family Literacy program.

Cyndy Colletti
Literacy Program Manager
Illinois State Library Literacy Office
Gwendolyn Brooks Building
300 S. Second Street
Springfield, IL 62701
217-785-6921, fax:217-785-6927, ccolletti at ilsos.net,
 
Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian 




-----Original Message-----
From: familyliteracy-bounces at dev.nifl.gov
[mailto:familyliteracy-bounces at dev.nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Anderson, Abbie
M
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 6:39 PM
To: familyliteracy at dev.nifl.gov
Subject: [FamilyLiteracy] Family Literacy programs and public libraries


Greetings!

I am the Curator of Education at a university-based museum of
anthropology, and have partnered very happily with my family literacy
"buddies" who work in a 4-component program based in local school
systems (the CAPE program in Monroe County, Indiana). I am also
completing a Masters in Library Science, with the goal of becoming a
youth services librarian in a public library. 

 

Family literacy is an issue close to my heart, and I have built this
passion into my coursework. This term, I am pursuing a group assignment
that will result in a class presentation on issues surrounding Family
Literacy and Public Libraries. The topic was my own suggestion; although
most of my classmates knew little about family literacy programs when I
first presented the idea, it drew a great deal of interest.

 

I would be grateful for your comments about the role of public libraries
in your own family literacy efforts. Do you partner with public
libraries/librarians? If so, what is the extent of the library's
involvement in your program? How do you make use of the public library
with the families you serve? In your experience, what are the pros and
cons (strengths and weaknesses) of working with libraries/librarians?
How many of you are librarians?

 

I look forward to your answers. Thank you!

 

As background, and to explain my own perspective: 

 

Beginning in the mid-'90's, there was a surge of advocacy in library
circles for developing family literacy programs. Libraries seemed to be
a natural fit: we already advocate literacy, we are experienced with
programming for families, and we've got the books. Public libraries,
offering free materials and a wide range of services and fun events for
families, can and should be a powerful engine for cultivating a love of
reading and learning. This is especially true for those trapped in the
vicious cycle of intergenerational illiteracy/low literacy linked to
poverty, and for newcomers to the United States who are learning
English. 

 

However, in most parts of the United States, public libraries play a
passive or supporting role at best in family literacy programs. The
reasons for this appear to range from the fact that many libraries are
not prepared to deal with the social welfare needs of the families
served, to the fact that many family literacy programs originate as
extensions of adult education programs based in schools or local
literacy agencies-and issues of territory and habit inhibit deeper
partnerships. Library-centric programs like "Prime Time" appear to be
the exception rather than the rule.

 

Apologies for the lengthy e-mail!

 

Yours,

Abbie Anderson

 

*********************

Abbie Anderson

Curator of Education

Mathers Museum of World Cultures

http://www.indiana.edu/~mathers

abmander at indiana.edu

(812) 855-0197

 

"Education is the progressive realization of our ignorance."

   --Albert Einstein, via Bubbles Powerpuff

 

 


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