Literacy Without Barriers
Why Literacy?
The Neuse Regional Libraries Literacy Without Barriers Adult Literacy Program provides personalized education to adults so they can transform their lives and contribute to a stronger community.
When individuals learn how to read, write, do basic math, and use computers, they have the power to lift themselves out of poverty, lower health care coasts, find and keep sustainable employment, and ultimately change their lives. (ProLiteracy Website June 2020)
Adults need strong literacy skills...
…to raise children with strong literacy skills
“Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72 percent chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. These children are more likely to get poor grades, display behavioral problems, have high absentee rates, repeat school years, or drop out.” (ProLiteracy Website 2020)
…to stay healthy
“Nearly half of American adults have difficulty understanding and using health information. Lack of understanding impedes adults’ abilities to make appropriate health decisions and increases the likelihood that they’ll incur higher health costs.” (ProLiteracy Website 2020)
…to seek new job opportunities.
“Recent data show that nearly 30 percent of adults with household incomes at or below the federal poverty line do not have a high school credential. The key to financial success is a viable career path and adequate education to seek meaningful, family-supporting wages.”
Become a volunteer
The Neuse Regional Libraries Literacy Without Barriers Adult Literacy Program provides personalized education to adults so they can transform their lives and contribute to a stronger community.
Our one-on-one and small group tutoring is free and based on student’s schedules, making it accessible to those who would other wise be unable to afford or attend traditional classroom settings.
Three Simple Steps Becoming a Tutor
- Attend tutor training. At orientatio, you will have the opportunity to sign up for the training. Tutors in the Adult Education receive 12 hours of training.
- Get matched with a student. The Engagement Librarian will match you with a student or small group of students who corresponds to the preferences you indicate at tutor training. The Engagement Librarian will set the date, time, and location of your first meeting. After that, you will schedule your tutoring sessions with your Adult Ed student.
- Start tutoring. Meet with your student(s) for at least 1.5 hours per week for a minimum of six months. Share your success stories with us and attend periodic in-service trainings to freshen up your skills.
Commitment
Tutors commit to 6 months, 1.5 hours per week, of student tutoring at a mutually agreeable time of day, day of week, and location.
“This grant is made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-246155-OLS-20).”
