Each year the Literacy Development Council requests all municipalities in the province to recognize International Literacy Day. We send a letter and a Proclamation to each of the 290 municipalities. While we don't have the exact number many of them did recognize September 8, 1999 as International Literacy Day. We take this opportunity to thank each and every municipality who has helped in promoting literacy in the province. Their efforts, along with those of many others, give all of us an appreciation that literacy is an issue. It must be addressed by all facets of society including community, regional and provincial bodies, along with all of our individual efforts. The Literacy Development Council encourages and appreciates the support of all.

Proclamation Signing
On September 8, 1999 the City of St. John's signed an International Literacy Day Proclamation.

In December 1999 the Literacy Development Council submitted a brief called Literacy and Economic Development to the Provincial Cabinet Committee on Jobs and Growth. The following paragraph is taken from the brief:

"In Newfoundland and Labrador the Literacy Development Council is hearing from and learning more about these circumstances {lack of funding support to continue education} of individuals. As well, there are community - based literacy centres that have closed and others which are operating marginally as they are constantly faced with the uncertainty of funding support of their programs and core operations. In the meantime there are still large numbers of people with low literacy skills trying to access programs. Further coordination between federal and provincial government is needed to support literacy groups. These partnerships can go a long way to strengthen people's capacity to participate in a growing economy and contribute more to the province. It is anticipated that some of these issues will be addressed in the forth-coming provincial strategic literacy plan."

1. A main goal of Literacy Update is to inform literacy stakeholders of actions taken by the Literacy Development Council for improving literacy.

2. Literacy Update should inform literacy stakeholders of decisions, plans, issues, etc. affecting literacy.

3. Literacy Update may raise literacy issues. The intent is not to provide a definitive stand on issues, but to encourage others to reflect on these and to take what action is feasible.

4. Items for Literacy Update come from day-to-day actions of the Literacy Development Council, media releases on literacy, information provided by callers to the Literacy Development Council, and suggestions by Literacy Development Council Board Members.

5. Literacy Update is not intended to report on projects, programs, etc. unless these are in some way tied directly to Literacy Development Council plans and decisions.

6. Literacy Update is not intended to carry announcements/advertisements of programs, materials, meetings, conferences, etc., unless these are in some way tied directly to Literacy Development Council plans, and decisions.

7. Literacy Update is prepared by the Administrative Assistant and the Executive Committee.