Over 40% of libraries surveyed have existing partnerships with local literacy programs.

78% of libraries without partnerships indicated that it would be very to somewhat helpful to develop them.

A majority of libraries surveyed expressed strong interest in having access to AlphaPlus collection resources and staff expertise to support adult literacy and family literacy programming in their libraries and their communities.

These Phase I findings confirmed AlphaPlus’ original hypothesis that there is willingness and growing commitment on the part of both the LBS and public library communities in Ontario to forge viable partnerships.

Across Ontario, nearly 400 public and First Nation libraries, with 900 branches, are increasingly earmarking promotion of adult literacy as a service objective that supports community development goals. As provincial service delivery agencies – AlphaPlus, Southern Ontario, Library Service and Ontario Library Service-North – can facilitate and encourage community efforts through the development of collaborative and effective partnerships. Phase II of Linking Literacy and Libraries, now underway, is endeavoring to do just that, with a specific focus on Anglophone and Native literacy.

Linking Literacy and Libraries Phase II is exploring a partnership model that places deposit collections of literacy resources in community libraries for use by learners, programs and the community at large. Deposit collections are customized to the expressed needs of community partners, and contain up to 200 print and audio-visual resources and web site links on related topics. Deposit collections can remain in the community for up to a year. By partnering with your local library to provide learner and community access to deposit collections of adult literacy resources, LBS programs can:

• Increase community awareness of availability and access to LBS programs
• Increase your community’s awareness of the availability of adult literacy resources
• Encourage lifelong learning in your community
• Support learners’ independence goals

Phase II community partners serving as Deposit Collection pilot sites include:

• Organization for Literacy in Lambton & Lambton County Library
• Sioux Hudson Literacy Council & Sioux Lookout Public Library
• Six Nations Literacy Achievement Centre & Six Nations First Nation Public Library
• Literacy Network North East, Timmins Adult Learning Centre, Timmins Native Friendship Centre & Timmins Public Library

Future direction for Linking Literacy and Libraries is being guided by a Reference Group of key representatives from both the public and First Nations library communities, and the LBS and family literacy communities. The provincial literacy community includes representation from:

• Community Literacy Ontario (CLO)
• Laubach Literacy Ontario
• OLC Action for Family Literacy Ontario
• Journey to Learning Wikwemikong
• OLC Advisory Roundtable - LBS College Sector National Literacy Secretariat

Planning for Phase III of the Linking Literacy and Libraries project is now underway. If funding is approved, AlphaPlus will looking both to expand the deposit collection program within the Anglophone and Native streams, and also to extend it to include the Francophone stream. If developing a partnership with your local library to promote and encourage literacy service delivery in your community, speak with your local library, and contact the project staff at AlphaPlus for more information.

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