Adult Literacy & English As A Second Language (ESL) Program

Providing reading, writing and/or English-speaking instruction to adults in our community

Background

Statistics indicate that approximately 20% of adults in the United States are unable to read and write well enough to achieve and maintain a satisfactory quality of life, or even to function in our increasingly technological society. Inadequate literacy levels occur in all social and economic classes, and the problem often continues into future generations within a family. The cost is high to those directly affected, who are unable to achieve their personal, family, and work related goals, and to society as well. Unemployment results in decreased tax revenue and increased welfare costs. Uninformed citizens are often unable to take active roles in their communities, and are less able to make good choices as voters.

What IS The Adult Literacy & ESL Program?

The California Literacy Campaign (CLC) was created in 1984 by the California State Library to provide literacy instruction to anyone “over 16 years of age, out of school, and reading on less than a 6th grade level.” In 1987, the Benicia Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program was created to serve the literacy needs of adults in our community. At present, 103 public library-based literacy programs are active in our state. As the Adult Literacy Program grew, another need in the community became apparent: English As A Second Language services. The Adult Literacy Program chose to fill this growing need by offering small group classes on a weekly basis.

Over time, the Adult Literacy & ESL Program has grown to fill not only the initial mission of 1:1 volunteer tutoring services for English speaking adults, but the need for small group ESL Classes, a Computer Lab, and Families For Literacy programming. All program services are free to the user.

Ways You Can Help Make a Difference

• Become a volunteer tutor with the program. Adult learners are in real need of volunteers to aid them in building and bettering their skills.
• Make a financial donation to the program. The generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations allows us to better serve the community. Checks should be made payable to Adult Literacy & ESL Program and sent to:
  • • Adult Literacy & ESL Program
    • Benicia Public Library
    • 150 E L St.
    • Benicia, CA 94510
• If you own a business, why not make an in-kind donation for our annual fundraiser, the Trivia Bee?! Examples of services needed for a successful bee include:
  • gifts for raffles and auctions
  • printing services
  • food service
  • drinks (wine, sodas, water, coffee and tea)
  • paper goods
  • craft materials to create scenery and props
• If you are a large corporation, encourage your employees to volunteer as tutors. Consider providing paid time for them each week to volunteer tutor with us. In doing this, you’re helping build our community, person by person!
• If your business has a Human Resources department or area that displays business cards or fliers, consider displaying our ‘Help With Reading’ outreach cards. Statistics show that one in five adults struggles with low literacy: chances are that someone working with you, or at your place of employment needs our help.
  • Other ways to help:
    • Promotion of our services among employees
    • Donating in-kind services such as printing and advertising
    • Collecting staff contributions for Adult Literacy & ESL Program
    • Organizing special events benefiting the Adult Literacy & ESL Program
    • Sponsoring Adult Literacy & ESL Program events or services
• Include the Adult Literacy & ESL Program in your estate planning. By making a bequest to the Adult Literacy & ESL Program in your will or living trust you assure our continuing ability to provide quality literacy tutoring to adults in and around Benicia. You may also receive substantial estate tax benefits. A simple bequest can be worded as follows: I give to the Benicia Library Adult Literacy & ESL Program, a California tax-exempt nonprofit organization, (the sum of $___) or (___% of the residue of my estate) to be used to support the activities of the Adult Literacy & ESL Program, the adult literacy program of the Benicia Public Library.

We are happy to speak with you or your estate planning professional about opportunities for planned giving to the Adult Literacy & ESL Program

updated 10/27/08