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The Illinois Adult Literacy Program of the Illinois State Library

The mission of Secretary White's Literacy Office is to enable agencies in Illinois to offer services to help Illinois adults and their families who read at the lowest levels to increase their reading ability in English. According to the Illinois Adult Literacy Survey, about 4 million Illinois adults lack the basic reading, math, writing or language skills to function effectively at home, at work and in the community. Since 1986, when the Illinois State Library literacy program began, thousands of adults have improved their reading, writing and language skills through projects funded with literacy grant funds.

Initiatives of the Illinois Literacy Program include..

• Illinois Adult Learning Hotline
  • The Illinois State Library Literacy Office and the Illinois Community College Board cooperated with the Adult Learning Resource Center to survey administrators throughout the state about their need for adult literacy volunteers. Not surprisingly, many administrators expressed a strong need for more volunteers. In response, five different flyers to recruit volunteers for adult education and literacy programs have been developed. The following flyers are free to print, photocopy and distribute.
    • "Pass on Your Passion for Reading" is targeted to libraries
    • "Build Your Resume" is aimed at colleges and universities
    • "VOLUNTEER" is being sent to senior centers
    • "Help Your Community" is for chambers of commerce
    • "Help Others Integrate Into Your Community" was developed for those who have the ability to speak multiple languages.
  • Hotline Online
     

• GED-Illinois -- Online Study Option
  
  • The Illinois State Library Literacy Office is cooperating with the Illinois Community College Board and the Center for the Application of Instructional Technology at Western Illinois University to advertise the availability of the GED-Illinois (GED-i). GED-i is an online option for an adult learner to use to study for the GED test. Since libraries are often a place for learners to obtain computer access, this is an option librarians need to be aware of. For more information on the GED-I, check out the web site. Your library could place a hyperlink to that web site among your online resources.
     

• Adult Literacy Grant Program
  • Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Project
  • Family Literacy Project
  • Workplace Skills Enhancement Project
  • Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Grant Program

For more information about this program contact Literacy Program Manager Cyndy Colletti at ccolletti@ilsos.net, visit the Illinois Literacy Program web site or browse the Illinois Literacy newsletters posted below.

You may also want to consult the Guide to Secretary of State's Literacy Effort for further information.