This examination of library involvement in adult literacy programs argues that public libraries had their roots in widespread concern for literacy in the 17th century and traces the development of such programs to the present. Changing definitions of literacy are summarized, and current issues in adult library services are discussed. (EM)

Examines the public library's role in adult literacy education in Australia in the past decade. Identifies areas of library services and staff training that need to change in response to the need of literacy programs. (SK)

Describes characteristic literacy problems of the U.S. workforce and reports on industry's efforts to close the gap between the skills brought to the job and those required on the job. (HOD)

Relates a personal experience of teaching reading to an illiterate adult from Mexico. (HOD)

Describes a literacy campaign in Ethiopia. Presents responses of women surveyed as to their motivation for and attitudes about attending the literacy classes. (HTH)

Highlights concerns reading professionals might have regarding the use of volunteer tutors to attack the problem of adult illiteracy in a modern industrial nation. (HOD)

Presents research findings on the character and effectiveness of developmental studies programs. Points out 11 elements common to those developmental programs reporting the most complete and promising retention data. (DMM)

Argues that the obligatory nature of functional literacy does not deprive the individual freedom of thought and opinion, and that voluntarism in basic adult education in the United States has greatly contributed to putting the nation at risk and to keeping it a nation at risk. (HOD)

Proposes the development of an adult education literacy and family planning pilot project in India, which has a total population of more than 600 million. (ABM)

The adult basic education program has had little impact on reducing illiteracy among adults in the United States. Reasons include a bad funding formula, lack of measurable objectives, and curtailed federal project activity. (JDS)

This Study Circle guide was created by the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) as part of the Practitioner Dissemination and Research Network (PDRN). The guide is part of NCSALL's effort to help connect research and practice in the field of adult basic education and adult literacy. The purpose of the study circle…

This document was produced by the authors based on their research for the report "Using Information and Communication Technologies in Adult Literacy Education: New Practices, New Challenges," and is an added resource for further information. The contents of this support document are divided into two parts. Part I includes: (1) Literature…

This final performance report compares the goals and actual accomplishments of a project focused on establishing a basic, cooperative literary collection, with the specific goal of improving availability of and access to literacy materials for literacy providers and students. The project included coalition building, public awareness, basic…

These four newsletters focus on issues related to adult basic education and the challenges faced when teaching adult learners. The first issue introduces the LDA (Learning Disabilities Association) Learning Center, a private, nonprofit agency intended to maximize the potential of all people with learning disabilities or related learning…

This sourcebook offers 10 examples of how partnerships between educators and newspapers can play an active role in preparing informed citizens and in making adult education more attractive and effective. The examples are drawn from newspaper-education partnerships in the following countries: Argentina, Cameroon, Mali, Mexico, the Netherlands,…