Partners

The Southern Adirondack Library System (SALS) and Literacy NENY are partners in this project to energize adult learning.

Goal

The goal of our project is to create a Best Practices model for adult student learning that merges the essential strengths of two organizations dedicated to lifelong learning—literacy volunteers and public libraries.

We want to engage adult learners and tutors in the excitement of learning and also to accelerate the learning process. Technology is a powerful motivator for adults, both volunteer tutors and learners. Success in using technology to do what you want enhances self-esteem.

Website

This website connects users living across 4,237 mostly rural square miles to high interest resources that can be reached from inside or outside their library with an Internet connection and a library card. The website also links to support services from the library system and Literacy NENY via its Ask Us feature.

Funding

Supported by funds from the New York State Library's Adult Literacy Library Services grant program, FY 2005-2007

Target audience

Our target audience is the volunteer tutors working in the Literacy NENY program of Warren, Saratoga and Washington Counties.

• 150 tutors are active at any given time; 200 people tutor over the course of a year
• 75 tutors are matched with ESOL adult learners
• 75 tutors are matched with Basic Literacy Adult learners; 60 work with adult learners reading at the 3rd to 5th grade level

We will reach the target audience through tutor education. During the project period, we will cooperatively develop a curriculum that provides training, practice, results-oriented lesson planning instruction, and computer support so that tutors and adult learners will experience success. We will also work with public library staff to improve their abilities to assist adult learners and their tutors.

More information

Click on the Ask Us button to contact this project.