A question came up in our Service Priority Work Group meeting relating to the mission/definition of literacy advancement as HPL’s one of the four service priorities. I would like to share the definition of Literacy Advancement Service Priority:
“Houston Public Library will promote the joy of reading in order to enrich lives, expand horizons and foster imagination. HPL will provide customers with the support they need to initiate and develop their literacy skills in order to meet their personal goals and make decisions that affect their lives.”
One of the goals of this service priority is to create a literacy hub at Carnegie and provide innovative inter-generational educational programs, collections and services for beginning readers and writers of all ages.
I look forward to hearing your ideas in regards to what services do you think should be offered at Carnegie as a Literacy Hub for HPL. Do you feel that the hours should be changed and more evening or morning hours should be added to accommodate customers looking for evening classes/programs that support literacy? Please provide suggestions by clicking on comment.
5 comments:
Maybe they could add a few more early literacy stations at Carnegie? I know they are expensive though.
If Carnegie is meant to serve the whole system in this regard, there would need to be later hours in the evening in my opinion. This would give people a chance to get over there after work from the other side of town if they so choose.
By literacy, are we talking English literacy? Literacy in Spanish or whatever other language the person speaks? I see an ESL class is being pushed at the moment, so I assume that the main focus is literacy in English.
Hi Patrick - It is a great idea to add a few extra early literacy stations! At the moment the focus is English literacy and provide ESL and gradually add GED and ABE.
Thanks,
Shammi
Additional ESL classes during the day and evening is terrific. The GED classes are in high demand and connected to the economic downturn. As folks are layed off from positions that may not have required the GED, they are seeking new employment and need that document. My personal opinion is that the numbers of ESL and GED inquiries are about equal. ESL will always be a service demand in the border states and in cities such as Houston that have large international populations. Can we focus on both? Pat/HEI
Thank you for your input. I will definitely share it with Mary to see if we can partner with an organization to provide GED classes at Carnegie.
Shammi
Patrick makes another excellent point. Literacy service providers suggest teaching literacy in the individual learner's first language. It is a long term goal that the service could be expanded to include this important customer base.
Current ideas include the following classes: ABE (adult basic education), GED, ESL, citizenship, and possibly after school tutoring and mentoring. Bilingual playgroups and computer classes are currently available.
Your insights are very appreciated!! Mary
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