Co-Designing Library-Based Adult and Family Literacy Centers
About the Project
An estimated 54% of adults in the United States lack proficiency in foundational literacy, including reading, numeracy and digital skills. Young readers are struggling as well, with 64% of our nation’s fourth-graders reading below grade level. Literacy is directly connected to better health outcomes, reductions in recidivism for returning citizens, and better language and learning outcomes for children whose parents and caregivers have higher literacy. However, access to literacy skills and services remains a pervasive challenge across the country.
Through this new initiative, ALA and its partners from ALL IN are collaborating with the Charleston County Public Library, the Chicago Public Library and the Delaware Library Consortium to codesign a suite of resources and training materials to help library professionals nationwide support literacy building in their local communities. Resources will include a guidebook to build librarian and library staff capacity to meet diverse adult and family literacy needs.
Project Resource Suite
About the Project Team
About ALA: The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.
About ALL IN: The Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network is a collective impact initiative formed by national thought leaders in the adult learning field and beyond. Convened by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and generously supported by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, ALL IN is charged with carrying out the goals of the National Action Plan for Adult Literacy, a multisector, multiyear initiative designed to drive inclusive, collective action to increase adult literacy nationwide. To learn more, visit www.allinliteracy.org.
