In honor of Council member Nancy Pyle, who will be leaving the San Jose City Council, the other council members each gave a new children's book to the Partners in Reading (PAR) book drive, Together We Read. Partners in Reading is the adult literacy program of the San Jose Public Library. Any adult in the program with a child under 14 receives books every other month throughout the year. The books come from donations, and PAR is currently holding a book drive until January 31, 2013. If you would like to donate a book, please drop it off at any San Jose Public Library branch or Hicklebee's books. Valerie Lewis of Hicklebee's was recently interviewed on KQED radio and gave some suggested children's book titles.

Here are the books given by the council members to support PAR. We thank the San Jose City Council for their gracious support of PAR and the adults we serve.

Partners in Reading (PAR) is the adult literacy program of the San Jose Public Library. Following is some information for new volunteers and for adults who need help with reading, writing, communication, and computer skills.

Imagine that you could not read a medicine label. What problems do you think might happen as a result?

Consider becoming a volunteer tutor to help change someone’s life, quite possibly your own. Become a volunteer tutor and work with an individual or a small group to tutor basic literacy skills. The next orientation and training begin on March 13, 2013. The 90-minute orientation is followed by two all-day training sessions at the King Library on Saturday, March 16 and Saturday, March 23.

The next learner orientation for adults who want to be part of PAR’s regular tutoring program for basic literacy will be on Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Learners need to be over 18, live or work in San Jose, read or write below the 9^th grade level, and be able to make a 6-month commitment.

For information about any of these opportunities and to sign up, please call (408) 808-2361. You can also find out more about Partners in Reading by visiting us online.

Partners in Reading has two new classes. If you are an adult, think about taking these two classes. They start in January, 2013 and will meet two times a week for 90 minutes each on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the King Library.

• Spelling is Fun from 9:00 am to 10:30 am
• ESL Writing Class from 10:45 am to 12:15 pm

Contact PAR for orientation information and to sign up. The classes will be from January 8 to April 4, 2013. They will give you a lot of practice so that you can be a more independent writer. You will be confident that what you write is correct and easy to understand. You can sign up for one or both classes. Call (408) 808-2361 to find out more.

These words are from a current Partners in Reading tutor who is trying to encourage her neighbors to take a chance and become a volunteer. Would you like to do that too?

The Partners in Reading program of the San Jose Public Library is having a tutor shortage.

They currently have over 25 learners waiting and the list keeps growing.

A tutor training is scheduled for mid-July but they are not expecting nearly enough tutors to go around.

This is an amazing program that trains volunteer tutors to help adults learn to read.
Can you imagine

• not being able to read job notices, let alone fill out a job application?
• not being able to take the driving test to get a driver license?
• not being able to read bedtime stories to your children or grandchildren?

In 3 hours a week for six months (or more), you can help change someone's life.

You'll have an evening of orientation and two days of training, where you will learn and practice recommended teaching methods from expert teachers. You will learn about the tutoring experience, so you will be well-prepared when you meet your learner.

What kinds of people seek help from this adult literacy program?

• a refugee who was a teacher in her country. Her spoken English is adequate, but she needs to improve her vocabulary to return to teaching
• a retiree who wants to pass her GED
• an SJ native who wants to be more confident writing emails and staying current with his job skills, to help make sure he keeps his job
• adult dyslexics who were in school before support systems for learning disabilities were in place

You would meet with your learner at the King Library or a branch library. Study rooms can be reserved for privacy at a time convenient for you and your learner.

This can be a fantastic experience for you, as you share your love of words and reading, and find out what your learner can teach you! Also, if you prefer, you can tutor a small group of learners who are at similar levels working on the same goals.

If this opportunity sounds interesting to you, see http://sjpl.org/partutor - to sign up, contact  (408) 808-2361 or email par.sjpl@sjlibrary.org.

Don't delay, the next training session begins July 18th, 2012!!

San José, CA—The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) has selected San José Public Library (SJPL) as one of only ten libraries to receive the 2012 ULC Top Innovators Award.  SJPL was selected for its Work Wise literacy program in the category of Education, Literacy & Lifelong Learning.

Work Wise is a vocational ESL and literacy training program that improves the job performance of workers in San José. Through a combination of classroom instruction tailored to the specific industry, and individual tutoring provided by trained volunteers, participants improved their English skills and increased their proficiency on the job. San José Public Library’s adult literacy program Partners in Reading, developed and delivered Work Wise.

“We are proud to be recognized for this innovative program, where 97% of participants improved their competence on the job,” said Anne Cain, SJPL Interim Library Director.  “Workplace literacy is a win-win for employees and employers in San José and we look forward to expanding this service.”

In announcing the 10 Top Innovators, ULC President and CEO Susan Benton said the winning programs demonstrate the remarkable work that occurs in libraries every day.  "These programs emphasize the foundations of 21st century library service and demonstrate how public libraries are building community and changing lives everyday,” Benton said.  "We congratulate the winners for their innovation, creativity, and commitment to meeting the changing needs of the communities they serve."

The 10 innovative programs were selected from nearly 200 entries.  ULC, a membership organization made up of North America's leading public library systems, launched the Innovations Initiative in 2010 to capture and showcase creative programs that demonstrate the vital role public libraries play today in community life.

As a 2012 Top Innovator, San José Public Library was honored at the ULC Annual Forum June 21-22, 2012 in Newport Beach, California.  View the 2012 Top Innovators Brochure.

About the Urban Libraries Council

As a membership organization made up of America’s premier public library systems and the organizations that serve them, the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) has spent more than 40 years enriching urban communities by strengthening their public libraries. While ULC members primarily represent urban and suburban libraries, lessons from their work are widely used by all libraries. ULC serves as a forum for thought leaders sharing best and next practices resulting from targeted research, education and emerging trends. Its programs are recognized for creating new frameworks that invigorate public libraries and their communities.

About San JoséPublic Library

San José Public Library system (SJPL) is the largest public library between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the West Coast of California, serving a culturally diverse population of approximately 946,000 in the nation’s 10th largest city. SJPL is recognized across the country for its innovation and leadership in the field and is one of the busiest libraries nationwide, with an annual checkout rate of more than 13.5 million items through 19 currently operating locations. In 2011, SJPL received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries.  For more information, visit www.sjpl.org.

A Family Learning Center with a special emphasis on Career Exploration for Teens formally opened on January 25, 2012 at the Biblioteca Latinoamericana. This new center is the fifth to operate within the San Jose Public Library system. The four other Family Learning Centers are located at Tully, Hillview, Alum Rock and East Carnegie Library branches. The Family Learning Center is the recipient of a grant from the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation to establish a center within the Biblioteca.

The Family Learning Center programs focus on adult literacy, reading classes for elementary students and career exploration for teens. The ESL classes held at the center are taught by a certified ESL teacher.  A special collection of ESL materials, computers, and software enhance the various classes and workshops offered.  FLC offerings support the Latino population, youth at risk, underachieving youth, and new Americans.  All programs are free and open to the public.

KimNhung Nguyen, Senior Branch Manager for the Biblioteca and East Carnegie brings a wealth of experience to the Family Learning Center, previously managing a successful FLC at Hillview library. Cris Johnson, FLC coordinator will assist in promoting and presenting the programs.