Hello again! In the previous columns I touched on Partnership and Funding. This time I want to address the problem of obtaining reading material in your community.

There is always a great need for reading material when a literacy group first starts out. Unfortunately, there isn't much money available to purchase reading material. . . but don't despair! You may find much of what you need right in your community! Here are some things your group can do to obtain books and magazines right in your own backyard.

Hold a book drive and put up announcements that you are going door to door looking for books. The advance notice will allow the public to dig old books out of their closets, attics and basements. Don't worry about the condition of the books or their content, you can sort through them later.

Approach parents who have older children. They may have kept some of their children's books and may be willing to pass them on.

Contact government agencies such as Wildlife and Public Health and request brochures and other reading materials. These publications will be of interest to older learners since this is likely to be the type of material they use daily.

Visit your local stores and ask if they have any outdated books. They may give you books without covers, but it's still great reading material.

Check with your local schools. They are another source of books. Students often leave text books and novels at the end of the year.

Reading materials are very important to the learner. We don't realize it, but these resources are often readily available. Try to get the public involved in your book drives. People feel good about contributing, and, a book drive is a great source of public awareness. You may not always get enough of the materials you are looking for, and may need to look elsewhere for help. I will address this in my next Guide.

Gander literacy program enjoying third season

As it enters its third television season, the literacy program, Live and Learn, continues to receive support in the Gander area.

The half-hour program airs every Wednesday night and features local volunteers. It's produced by Cable Atlantic in cooperation with the Central Eastern Literacy Outreach Office, the Gander and Area Laubach Literacy Council, The Gander Beacon and adult learner representative Clane Moss.

Each week, hosts from the organizing groups encourage viewers to read along with news articles from The Beacon. The hosts also read books and conduct interviews with local news makers.

"It's a family reading time," says Ed Oldford, Literacy Field Worker with the Central Eastern Literacy Outreach Office. "It's a half hour of quality family time. The show begins with an introduction of its host. This is followed by reading a human interest story from the local paper, reading the community calendar which lists what events are going on in this area, and an interview about issues that the adult learner may not be aware of because of an inability to read. This is followed by a story with a family theme."

A special segment of the program features a column from The Beacon entitled, Read Along with Robert.

"It is done by an adult learner who is a Beacon correspondent for the Newtown news," says Mr. Oldford. "It's only about two paragraphs, but he takes words from the column and gives you the definition and breaks them into syllables."

According to Mr. Oldford, there aren't any costs associated with producing the program.

"We're trying to keep it as community owned as possible so it doesn't become dependent upon the public or dollars that might dry up," he says.

Mr. Oldford encourages other literacy groups to get involved in similar programming.

"We've encouraged other community groups through Robinson-Blackmore( RB) newspapers and the cable channel to start similar programs in their areas," Mr. Oldford says. "This will work in any community that has a RB newspaper and a local cable company."

The show is seen every Wednesday at 9p.m. and Sundays at 2p.m. on Cable 9.

Ed Olford and Cable 9 Program Manager Brian Tremblett edit a Live and Learn show.