Clearinghouse of Professional Information

Literacy Resources

“Literacy is making the most meaning you can with any text you have to, want to, need to read.” Dr. David Booth (OISE/UT) The role of public libraries is to facilitate and encourage the reading experience of readers of all ages, who are now using a variety of media.

Topics include

General Resources | Alphabétisation (French Literacy Resources) |  Easy Reads | Events |  Funding Opportunities | Literacy Organisations | Numeracy | Programs | Research and Studies

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General Resources

• AlphaPlus Pathfinders. Pathfinders are guides to help you quickly find relevant information on a particular topic. Each Pathfinder includes links to Web sites, relevant organizations and electronic resources.
• Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network / Réseau canadien de recherche sur le langage et l'alphabétisation formed by a group of leading Canadian researchers with a long-standing scientific interest in language and literacy
• Centre for Literacy. Summer Institute The Summer Institute is an annual forum designed to encourage the free exchange of ideas and experiences among participants from all levels and factions of the literacy sector in Quebec, Canada and around the world.
• Guidelines for Library-based Literacy Programs: some practical suggestions / Recommandations pour les programmes de lutte contre l'iIlletrisme dans les bibliothèques: quelques suggestions pratiques  (IFLA, 2000)
• Literacy Resources - IDEAS     The Provincial Literacy and Lifelong Learning Grant 2006 was intended to strengthen literacy and promote lifelong learning. Each library was to determine how best to achieve these goals and, to assist libraries in their decision-making work, staff members at the Southern Ontario Library Service have compiled a whole range of ideas.                 
• National Adult Literacy Database(NALD)   Includes the National Literacy Collection, downloadable "How to Kits". Also  NALD at Work ' website targets a number of audiences: employers, labour unions, workers, practitioners, researchers, and learners. A searchable database of literacy resources including, workplace related tools, such as a glossary, career development resources, and self-evaluation tools.  Also an extensive list of links to related workplace and literacy organizations in Canada.
• Opening Doors: Literacy Audit Tool Kit for Customer Service Excellence (Literacy Alberta)
• Putting a Canadian Face on Learning Disabilities .2007 (Learning Disabilities Association of Canada.) The Study set out to find what it means to be a child, youth or adult with learning disabilities (LD) in Canada.

Easy Reads

• Grass Roots Press is a division of Literacy Services of Canada Ltd. The parent company specializes in adult literacy research, while Grass Roots Press publishes and distributes adult literacy resources
• Guides to writing easy read documents. (U.S. National Library for Health. Learning Disabilities Specialist Library)
• Quick Reads (UK)

Events

• Canada Post Literacy Awards
• International Literacy Day, September 8th
• Literacy Events, resources and programs. Language, Literacy and Health Development ( Public Health Agency of Canada)
• RaW (Reading and Writing) A guide to developing better reading and writing skills. The BBC's literacy campaign and includes support material for public libraries.

Funding Opportunities

• ABC Canada Literacy Foundation 
• Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund for Ontario Rural Children  

Literacy organisations

• ABC Canada Literacy Foundation   is a national, registered charitable organization committed
  to promoting literacy to the general public and to the private sector. ABC focuses on public awareness programs and we create and conduct national literacy awareness campaigns, provide promotional support to local literacy groups and conduct research to further the development of a fully literate Canadian population.
• Action for Family Literacy in Ontario (AFLO) A resource for family literacy practitioners, parents, caregivers, and others interested in family literacy issues. This website offers information about programs, research, training, and important resources.
• AlphaPlus Centre Al eading knowledge-based Centre of Excellence for resources, standards and innovative use of technology in adult basic education
• Centre FORA  serves as a clearinghouse for French language resources, many of which focus on literacy. Twice a year, they circulate "trousses" [kits] of new materials to subscribers who are interested in reviewing new resources in the area of literacy. Some libraries might be interested in subscribing to this free service.
• ELMO Exemplary Literacy Materials Online. Reviews (B.C.) This is a free, interactive, online database of adult and family literacy resources and reviews. It was developed to meet the ongoing need adult literacy providers and learners have for appropriate and high quality instructional and learning resources
• Literacy Organizations in Ontario and other provinces (National Literacy Database)
• read:  the Reading Agency. (UK) Run big national reading programmes, like the Summer Reading Challenge for children and The Vital Link for adults trying to improve their literacy skills. This resource can be used as a resource by people working directly with readers. They provide training and advice as well as toolkits, websites and promotional materials.
• Spelling Bee of Canada  The Spelling Bee of Canada was established in response to a need within the community for a stimulating, educational program, outside the regular school curriculum, which would focus specifically on English language basics. Mission: Enrich the learning experience of our youth through growth in English vocabulary, public speaking and self-confidence. Engage youth, parents, schools, libraries, religious leaders, businesses and the community at large in a yearly education process.

Numeracy

• Adult Numeracy Core Curriculum (UK Department of Education and Skills)
• BBC - Schools Age 4 to 11 - Numeracy Sites (UK)
• Helping your Child Learn Math; a parents' guide (Ontario. Ministry of Education)
• Maths Teaching Ideas (UK)

Programs

• Adopt a Library Literacy Program. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have partnered with Scholastic Canada Ltd. to create an innovative Literacy Initiative. Geared towards children of all ages, from the very young, through the teenage years, its primary goal is to promote literacy in our youth. The Program works by partnering libraries with police. They bring together other community partners such as businesses, service clubs and agencies. By networking with community businesses, items are donated to libraries that are in turn used as prizes and incentives to encourage children to visit their local libraries.
• Adult Learners' Week Around the World (Australia)
• Every Child to Read (ALA)  Resources. This is joint project of the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children   Resources adapted and translated into French by the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library for its adaptation of this programme
• Get Set Learn - Everything You Need to Run a Family Literacy Program (National Adult Literacy Database)
• Golden Oak Award. (Ontario Library Association) For public libraries, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with local adult literacy programs and to promote library service to adult new readers.
• Me Read? No, Way! A practical guide to improving boys' literacy skills(.pdf 1MB)  (Ontario. Ministry of Education.) 'This guide is intended for teachers, principals, and other professionals in the field of education at the elementary or secondary level. It will be of particular interest to those who are developing and delivering literacy programs'
• Prime Time Family Reading Time (Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities) This is a 6 or 8 week reading, discussion, and storytelling program held at public libraries. It reinforces the role of the family as a major social and economic unit; it trains parents and children to bond together around the act of reading and learning together to improve skill and achievements; it teaches parents and children to read and discuss humanities topics (history, literature, and ethical issues, such as fairness, greed, honor, and deceit) as a way of fostering high academic expectations and achievements in low-literacy, low-income families; it encourages low-literacy, low-income parents to enter or continue their own educational programs, whether GED or other training, and enter the workforce; it helps parents and children learn how to select books and become active library users.

Research and Studies

• Early Literacy Initiative Impacts Public Library Services for Young Children (the Library Research Service, Colorado State Library. Colorado Department of Education)
• Early Reading Strategy. The Report of the Expert Panel on Early Reading in Ontario, 2003
• How does literacy affect the health of Canadians (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• The Iceberg of Informal Adult Learning (.pdf) by Allen Tough. NALL Working Paper # 49, 2002 (New Approaches to Lifelong Learning Research Network)
• Reading and Buying Books for Pleasure. 2005 National Survey (.pdf)  (Department of Canadian Heritage) 272 pages
• The Role of Public Libraries in Children’s Literacy Development: an evaluation report, 2001. (.pdf)  (Pennsylvania Library Association)  An interesting,  researched based,  report on the effects of library reading programs on reading levels.
• School Libraries and Student Achievement in Ontario. A study by Queen's University and People for Education. Published by the Ontario Library Association, 2006.

Alphabétisation  (French Literacy Resources)

• Aspects canadiens des troubles d'apprentissage 2007 (Troubles d’apprentissage - Association canadienne ,TAAC) Cette étude de pointe de recherche appliquée  a pris trois ans à réaliser. Elle cherchait à établir ce que signifie être un enfant, un jeune ou un adulte qui a des troubles d’apprentissage (TA) au Canada.
• Centre AlphaPlus Desservant les intervenants ainsi que les organismes ontariens qui œuvrent dans le domaine de l'alphabétisation pour les communautés sourde, autochtone, francophone et anglophone. Leur  objectif est d'aider nos utilisateurs à trouver les ressources et l'information qui enrichiront l'apprentissage des adultes participant à des programmes d'alphabétisation . Voir Index de ressource sur le Web
• Centre de documentation sur l'éducation des adultes et la condition féminine   Fonds documentaire a pour mission de collecter, diffuser, promouvoir et rendre accessibles les savoirs et les savoir-faire des milieux de l'éducation des adultes, de l'alphabétisation et de la condition féminine du Québec et des communautés francophones du Canada.
• Chaque enfant préparé à la lecture Traduction par la Bibliothèque publique d'Ottawa du prpgramme 'Every Child to Read'
• Le coin de la famille - votre portail de l'alphabétisation familiale ! (Centre FORA) Ce service en ligne se veut un appui aux familles ainsi qu'aux intervenants œuvrant dans le domaine de l'alphabétisation familiale. Vous trouverez des renseignements utiles sur les services et les ressources disponibles.
• Comment élever des enfants qui aiment la lecture - Livret (YMCA Canada) Pour les parents et les autres personnes qui aiment les enfants et qui vivent avec des enfants de 5 à 10 ans, ce livret appuie les efforts que vous déployez afin de développer les acquis et élever de jeunes lecteurs. Il lie l’alphabétisation – la capacité de lire et d’écrire – aux 40 acquis relatifs au développement dons les enfants ont besoin pour s’épanouir.
• Lire et faire lire (L'Association nationale Lire et faire lire) Le projet consiste à recruter des bénévoles âgés de 50 ans et plus, afin qu'ils se rendent dans des écoles primaires pour faire la lecture à des petits groupes de deux à cinq enfants.
• Moi, lire? Tu blagues! Guide pratique pour aider les garçons en matière de littératie
• Répertoire commenté: Matériel d'animation en alphabétisation familiale (Agence de la santé publqiue du Canada) Ce projet constitue un premier profil du travail qui se fait sur le terrain en alphabétisation familiale. La première partie du présent rapport de recherche aidera les personnes intéressées à choisir le matériel d'animation en alphabétisation familiale le plus apte à atteindre leurs objectifs de travail, tandis que la seconde saura orienter le suivi à assurer sur les plans national, provincial et régional pour répondre aux besoins des uns et des autres. Voir la sectionComment lire le Répertoire commenté. Pour vous voir la richesse de ce site examiner la liste des outils recensés.

Logiciel

• Métafo : apprentissage de la lecture pour les enfants âgés de 4 à 8 ans. Métafo… lire en jouant! Ce logiciel éducatif s’adresse à tous les enfants qui apprennent à lire, aux enfants dyslexiques et à ceux qui éprouvent des difficultés dans l’apprentissage du langage écrit.
Métafo propose une vingtaine d’activités pour stimuler la conscience phonologique des enfants. Dans ce jeu éducatif interactif, l’enfant est invité à aider quatre personnages sympathiques à relever les défis qui se présentent sur chacune de leur planète. Chaque planète contient des jeux qui visent le développement d’habiletés essentielles à l’apprentissage de la lecture et de l’écriture… Les activités proposées sont ludiques, diversifiées et simple d’utilisation.