This special issue of the "Courier" has been produced to mark the beginning of International Literacy Year 1990. It brings together papers from adult educators involved in literacy work about who needs literacy and why, what literacy is, who can help in creating the right conditions for literacy to succeed, and how to evaluate literacy programs. Following an introduction and messages from the Director-General of UNESCO (Mayor) and from the president of the Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education (Pick), the collection is organized in two parts. Part 1 explores "Literacy: Some Thoughts on the Eve of International Literacy Year 1990." Papers included are the following: "The 'International' in International Literacy Year 1990" (Alan Rogers); "Literacy as a Social Process: Literacy as a Social Intervention" (H. S. Bhola); "Literacy for Development: Can Sociology and Anthropology Help Adult Education?" (Heribert Hinzen); "UNESCO's Rhetoric: Appeal and Reality" (Premadasa Udagama); "The Promotion of Literacy from the Perspective of Community Education" (Alan Blackhurst); and "Guidelines for Evaluating Nonformal Education Programs on Literacy" (Innotech Newsletter). Part 2 addresses "Literacy Programs in Countries of Asia and the Pacific." These papers are included: "Study Report of Adult Education Programs in the People's Republic of China, Philippines, Thailand, and Pakistan" (Safraz Khawaja); "'Tokples' Literacy in Papua New Guinea: The Challenge of Vernacular Literacy in a Multi-Language Environment" (Susan Malone); "Literacy Workshop Report" (S. H. Waura); "The Psychology of Illiterate Rural Women in Korea" (Cheong Ji Woong); "Literacy Work in Southern Thailand" (Mohamad A. Kadir); "What I Need Is More" (Sunthorn Sunanchai); "Impressions of Literacy Status in Bangladesh" (G. S. Pradhan); "Report of Literacy Study Visit to Nepal" (M. Hanif); "Rapid Literacy Learning Method" (Nishat Farooq); "Literacy Activities at the Centre for Adult Education and Extension, University of Kerala" (K. Sivadasan Pillai); and "Communication Technology for the National Literacy Mission" (B. B. Mohanty). Following the papers is an annotated bibliography of 15 resources and a section titled "Learning Exchange," which describes activities related to the International Literacy Year. (KC)