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.

Recently the San Jose Public Library featured an interesting web resource called Statistic Brain. This website has statistics on a wide range of topics. Partners in Reading looked at the numbers for people in the U. S. and throughout the world who lack literacy.

Some of the appalling numbers are that almost a quarter of the population in this country reads below the 5th grade level and that almost 20% of high school graduates have troubles reading. Another shocker is that 63% of inmates don't read well. There is a strong connection between limited literacy and poor health, crime, and poverty, among many other problems that our society faces.

Statistic Brain also has data on the difference that a high school graduate will earn annually compared to a high school dropout - $14,117.

We encourage you to take a look and also to join Partners in Reading to help adults in San Jose read and write better. Orientation and training start on September 19th, 2012. Please call Partners in Reading at (408) 808-2361 for more information.

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!!

Does your child need help with their math homework or a special school project? Then, come bring your child to your neighborhood library in Alviso and get homework assistance from our bilingual (English/Spanish) tutor who is available to help

students in grades K-9 with their homework assignments in math, science, reading or writing.

Our Homework Center at the Alviso Branch Library is available on Wednesdays, 1pm-5pm; Thursdays, 2pm-6pm and Fridays, 2pm-6pm.

Registration is required so please contact the Alviso Branch Library for more information

at (408) 263-3626.

Also, please take advantage of San José Public Library's Live Homework Help which students can chat with an online tutor and get homework help and check out the Kid's Homework Page as well as Teen Page for useful homework related links.

¿Tiene un hijo/a que necesita ayuda con sus tareas de matemáticas o de un proyecto especial de la escuela? Entonces, traigan a su hijo/a a la Biblioteca de Alviso para obtener ayuda con las tareas de nuestra tutora bilingüe que está disponsible para ayudar a los estudiantes en los grados K-9 con su tardeas de matemáticas, ciencias, lectura o gramática.

Nuestro Centro de Tareas en la Biblioteca Alviso (ubicado en el salon comunitario) está abierto los miércoles, 1pm-5pm; los jueves, 2pm-6pm y los viernes, 2pm-6pm.

Es necesario registrarse, por favor póngase en contacto con la Biblioteca de Alviso al (408) 263-3626 para más información.

También, por favor tome ventaja del servicio llamado Live Homework Help de la Biblioteca Pública de San José en donde los estudiantes pueden charla con un tutor en línea y en vivo para obtener ayudar con sus tareas. Además visitan la página de la Biblioteca Pública de San José en la páginas: Kid's Homework Page y Teen Page para los enlaces relacionadas con información para la tareas.

On December 10, eleven new volunteers completed tutor training and have been matched with adults who read or write below the high school level. We hope they enjoy their tutoring experience, because they will be helping adults build literacy skills while becoming more involved in the community. You can become a volunteer tutor as well. Just call Partners in Reading (PAR) at (408) 808-2361 to learn more. The next orientation will be February 1. Many adults are waiting for your help to read the newspaper, register to vote, fill out job applications, and read to a child. You can also visit our website for more information.

For more information about how tutoring can help adults, read this December 15, 2011 San Jose Mercury News article about a learner who is overcoming some difficult obstacles while working on her reading and writing.

Would you like to help families read together and break the cycle of low literacy? You can do that by donating a book to the Partners in Reading (PAR) book drive. One of the most important ways to ensure literacy in children is to read aloud to them every day and read together as a family. In order to do that families need books and home libraries. PAR encourages you to donate a book to help families read and learn together. Drop off your new book at the PAR office in the King Library or at your branch library. Mark it PAR book drive and know that you are helping families.

You can also visit Hicklebee's and buy your book there or you can donate online. For further inspiration you can look at the teen's book list and the kids' book lists. Below are some of the titles that have already been donated.

Read this San Jose Mercury News article about PAR's book drive to learn more.