New council will help teach county adults how to read
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 26, 2010 1:46 PM
A recently-formed adult literacy council will be the beneficiary of proceeds from this year's spring library book sale.
Adrienne Strickland, executive director for Literacy Connections of Wayne County, came on board March 1 as its sole staff member. But the committee has been working on the project for nearly a year, she said.
"The adult literacy council will be helping adult non-readers to become readers with the help of volunteer tutors," she said.
What began as a subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce's Education Council is being expanded to meet some of the needs in the county, Ms. Strickland said.
The premise is to help adults complete requirements for their high school diploma or GED, in hopes it will prompt them to continue their education or to better themselves in work-force development.
"We're going through the community and speaking, partnering with the community college, to do one-on-one tutoring," she said. "In the summer, we will be recruiting tutors and training tutors with the hope of serving students starting in September."
Funded through the county and United Way, Literacy Connections is not affiliated with the college or Wayne County Public Library, although both will be relied upon for referrals and Ms. Strickland's office space was provided by the library.
Her contact number is 735-1824, Ext. 5128.
Meanwhile, this weekend's spring book sale, sponsored by Friends of the Library and held annually at the main branch of the Wayne County Public Library on Ash Street, will benefit Literacy Connections.
The event is scheduled to take place April 30 through May 2 in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium of the library.
Friday night from 7 to 9 will be a preview sale for Friends of the Library only, although memberships can be purchased at that time, at $10 for an individual and $15 for family memberships.
Hours will be 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday for the public sale.
Organizers say housands of good books will be available for sale at reasonable prices; tote bags will also be available for purchase.
It's not too late to donate books for the sale, organizers say. Exceptions that will not be accepted include encyclopedias, Reader's Digest condensed books, National Geographic magazines, textbooks or damaged books.