Literacy

 

Literacy is more than knowing how to read and write. It is about having the skills to function in society. Four out of every ten adult Canadians do not have the literacy skills needed to deal with most of the written information they see every day.

 

 

Literacy Collection

 

As part of its commitment to the promotion of lifelong learning, the KPL has collections of materials for adults who are learning to read or write or who are working on upgrading their literacy skills. KPL also has a number of resources for teachers of literacy and ESL. Some of these materials will also be useful for ESL students and teachers.

 

There are books and book-and-tape or CD kits, which allow readers to follow the text while listening to the book being read. All the resources are for adults but are written using limited vocabulary and at varying degrees of difficulty.

 

Subjects include:

 

  • Reading, writing, grammar

  • Math

  • Life skills

  • Understanding bills and writing cheques

  • Shopping, reading nutrition labels on food packages

  • Filling out forms

  • Voting

  • Reading a bus timetable

  • Looking for a job and writing a resume

  • Passing a driver’s test

 

 

Other Resources

 

KPL  has many other resources for adult learners to enjoy including newspapers, magazines, graphic novels and almanacs.

 

A great way to improve literacy skills is for parents to read to their children. There are plenty of books that are fun to read together in the Children’s Department.

 

A good way to connect adult learners and their families to the library is for library staff to visit learners in the classroom.

 

A trip to the library is a great follow up to an in-class presentation. Learners can get a library card and take advantage of the library’s resources. This is an opportunity to welcome learners into the library and to reinforce information shared in the in-class presentations.

 

To book an in-class visit or a tour of the library for large groups or for individual tutors and students, contact the Coordinator of Information Services at 519-743-0271 x 232.