In 1986, the United States Congress designated September as Adult Literacy Awareness Month. They requested that then President Ronald Reagan issue a proclamation, which he did on August 27, 1986.

September continues to be recognized by literacy programs nationwide as Adult Literacy Awareness Month. California State Library had begun sponsoring library-based adult literacy programs throughout California in 1984, and now provides support to over 100 such programs.

Parental role in helping children learn to read

The National Research Council's (NRC) report of the Committee on the Prevention of Reading Difficulties in Young Children found that children of parents with low literacy skills are likely to enter school with neither the language and pre-reading skills needed to succeed at literacy acquisition, nor the motivation to practice reading.

1. Parents who value reading and read because they enjoy it have children who are motivated to learn, and use reading skills, while parents who do not read, or find reading challenging, have children who view reading as a school experience unrelated to their life outside of school.

2. Parents who frequently ask their children questions and respond to the questions their children ask, provide a print-rich environment and read to their children, demonstrate reading's ability to solve problems, interact with their children around reading activities, make reading an enjoyable experience, are helping their children develop strong oral language skills and prepare for learning how to read in school.

Your help can be life-changing!

If you know an adult who could benefit from improved literacy skills, the speaking, reading and writing of English, you have the opportunity to make a tremendous contribution to their life, and their children's lives, by encouraging them to enroll in the free adult literacy program at the Truckee Library.

Read Up Literacy Service at the Truckee Branch of the Nevada County Library offers free, confidential, one-on-one tutoring by trained Volunteer Tutors for English speaking Nevada County adults seeking to improve their reading and writing of English.

In addition, non-English speakers in the Truckee area can receive tutoring in English language skills. The Tutor and Student select a convenient day/time/location to meet weekly.

Persons interested in volunteering as a Tutor, or enrolling as a Student, may contact Rolann Aronson, Truckee Area Coordinator for Read Up, at 530-575-7030.

Alan Archer is director of the Read Up Learning Center with the Nevada County Library.