Literacy Activities and Programming

The majority of libraries responding to the survey are involved in:

• maintaining and distributing information about literacy services in the community (87.80%)
• referring potential students to literacy programs (78.40%)
• provide meeting space in library or tutoring space to community providers (72.39%)
• providing print materials for adult new readers/learners (70.89%)
• engaging in community organizing activities focusing on literacy (70.37%)
• providing collections and materials for tutors (62.50%)

The figures of involvement go down substantially for:

• advocacy with government (46.88%)
• administer or participate directly in a family literacy program (33.54%)
• deliver employment skills training (18.24%)
• administer or participate directly in an adult literacy program (18.13%)
  • adult basic education programs (7.50%)
  • GED programs (3.75%)

Library staff or volunteer tutors provide most of the instructions in literacy programs (75%).

Literacy Partnerships

The majority (68.94%) of libraries said they are involved in community outreach activities targeted to literacy organizations. Less than half of responding libraries say they are part of a community literacy partnership (45.86%). They indicate that the three most significant barriers to partnering are lack of time, lack of money, and lack of knowledge about how to create the partnership

Over a third of those responding say they are involved in providing funding to community literacy partnerships. Libraries said the greatest support they provide is inkind donations through staff time and free library space (51.28%). This is followed by writing reference letters for literacy funding applications (20.51%).