What is NALD
"The Canadians have created probably
the most useful and comprehensive
adult basic skills website in the world.
It's the National Adult Literacy Database..."
Martin Good, "Basic Skills,"
London, England
The issue of literacy
The United Nations considers access to education a basic human right. Yet during the 1990s, the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) found that access to education is blocked for many Canadian adults due to factors such as race, ethnicity, geography, disability, and gender.
IALS defined literacy as "the ability to
use printed and written information to
function in society, to achieve one's goals
and to develop one's knowledge and
potential."
A personal and a global problem
"The IALS data offer ample evidence
that literacy programs for individuals
receiving income support would meet a
significant need as employment growth
is occurring in occupations and
industries with higher skill demands.
Without literacy skill training,
unemployment insurance and social
assistance beneficiaries will find it
increasingly difficult to return to or enter
the workforce."
Reading the Future:
A Portrait of Literacy in Canada
The IALS study acknowledged that literacy problems are diverse and complex. Poor literacy affects Canadians not just at a personal level. Low literacy also hinders Canada's chances of getting an edge in the knowledge-based global market.
Poor literacy skills extend across a broad educational, geographical, ethnic, cultural, class, and age spectrum in Canada. The diversity of need requires a mix of methods, but there must also be a shared vision at the core of the literacy effort.
That means that learning facilities, educators, business, organized labour, policy-makers, and non-profit groups must link together to raise the literacy levels of Canadians.
The NALD response
As a digital library, the National Adult Literacy Database links the diverse players and builds a united literacy community.
NALD is an award-winning service that:
- provides complete, full text documents and books, as well as a resource catalogue
- designs and hosts websites for literacy organizations
- researches and organizes educational material found elsewhere on the Web
- connects partners with experts in the field
- publicizes literacy-related activities and events
NALD provides information free of charge, levelling the playing field for learners and practitioners. NALD has changed the way resources are accessed and dramatically broadened the numbers who access them:
| Year | 2008-09 |
|---|---|
| Users | 5,200,000 |
| Pages Viewed | 17,000,000 |
| PDF Downloads | 5,700,000 |
The success factor
The National Adult Literacy Database is made possible by a dedicated and skilled team who research, collect, organize, file, and distribute information in a consistent way.
This accomplishment of creating a comprehensive and stable pan-Canadian adult literacy information system was realized through long-term partnerships and planning.
NALD has established itself as a pillar of support and stability in a community where support is often sporadic and stability a dream. NALD's recognition and use continue to grow, both within Canada and around the world.
Because of their access to NALD, literacy learners can be both consumers and creators of knowledge, linked to a global community. NALD services support the building of more literate families, increased workforce participation, and a strengthened Canadian culture and heritage.
National Adult Literacy Database
Sterling House
767 Brunswick Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 1H8
Canada
(506) 457-6900
1-800-720-6253
contactnald@nald.ca
www.nald.ca
NALD's principal funder is the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and it is supported by a significant in-kind contribution from the Government of New Brunswick.
