A.K. Smiley Public Library Blog

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

Diane Shimota

Adult learners share their stories in Adult Literacy anthology 

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The Redlands Adult Literacy Program is preparing to publish its sixth volume of Our Stories, A Collection of Writings, composed of writings from adult learners and tutors who participate in the Redlands Adult Literacy program.

The anthology includes writings that express empathy and gratitude for those who have impacted the authors’ lives, reflections about home or books that the authors have read, significant memories of family and friends, recollections of unexpected happenings, and stories about being close to nature.   

Through their writing, participants of the literacy program describe the challenges they face due to their low reading and writing skills and the joy they experience when they learn to read and write proficiently. “It is very hard to live on our world if you cannot read,” wrote one learner who is working diligently with his tutor to improve his reading skills. His dreams are to be able to comfortably read in public and share stories with his grandchild.   

Another learner shared that her mother is a housewife who is the hardest worker in her entire village. Her mom had big dreams for her children. The adult learner wrote, “My mom does not know how to read and write. She sent us all to school.” Education is an important part of her family because her mother knows the struggles of those who cannot read and write and the opportunities that arise when people are educated.   

Author Cinderella Tran at the 2022 Celebration of Authors event

Stories in this collection reflect the wide range of writing levels of adults in the literacy program. Each author worked diligently through the writing process with the assistance of a volunteer tutor. By working with their tutors, learners develop vital literacy skills that help them overcome obstacles in their lives.   

On September 19th, the Redlands City Council will consider the approval of a proclamation declaring Sunday, September 24th, Adult Literacy Day in Redlands. In prior years the City Council declared Adult Literacy Day to emphasize the importance of literacy in employment, family education, and civic engagement. To further celebrate the life-changing impact of literacy, the Redlands community is invited to join the Adult Literacy Program in its Celebration of Authors on Sunday, September 24th at 2:00 p.m. at the Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka St., Redlands. Adult Learners will read from their works which are published in the anthology. Light refreshments will be served. 

Our Stories, A Collection of Writings, Volumes 1 through 6, are available for checkout at Smiley Public Library. Additionally, many of the authors who submitted writings for the anthology accepted an invitation to read their stories on videotape and share them with the Redlands community. Some of these stories are available on the literacy webpage, www.akspl.org/literacy. 

If you would like to volunteer with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, please contact Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4138, or email literacy@akspl.org. You can learn more about the adult literacy program by attending the next volunteer tutor orientation scheduled for October 4, 2023. Please contact Diane for more information.   

If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their life by contacting the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. Tutoring is free and confidential.

The Adult Literacy and Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library partnership

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Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes as she presented Katherine Gifford, Diane Shimota, and Trudy Waldron with the certificate of recognition as a 2023 Non-Profit of The Year Honoree

On June 3, 2023, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes honored the Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library (Friends) as one of the 2023 Non-Profits of the Year for Assembly District 50. The honor was awarded to the Friends for their support of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. Since 2006 the Friends have co-sponsored and supported the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. This sponsorship was initiated when Smiley Library abruptly closed its grant-supported Adult Literacy Program due to the lack of local matching funds. Adult learners and their tutors sought support from the Friends.

In 2011 the Friends Board adopted a resolution which recognizes that adult literacy is of vital importance to the economic and social fabric of Redlands. The Friends consider the Adult Literacy Program one of its essential missions and promote adult literacy through public outreach and financial support. The Friends assist the literacy coordinator in reaching out to the community, forming new partnerships, and receiving grants and donations. A Friends-Library-city-state partnership has led to an expanded Adult Literacy Program which includes: family literacy, computer classes, anthology publications, book groups, leadership classes, and more.

Friends of the Library board members, tutors, staff, AmeriCorps member, and a Library trustee – all who support the Redlands Adult Literacy Program

Friends volunteers help raise funds for Library programs, such as the children and teen summer reading programs, Library programs, and the Adult Literacy Program. The Friends raise monies through memberships, bookstore sales, special sales, auctions, and private donations. Private donations directed to adult literacy are used as matching funds for literacy grants, events, and materials.

The Friends always seek new opportunities to reach out to the community. One volunteer highlighted her recent involvement at the Redlands Saturday Market, where she and other Friends volunteers shared information about the adult literacy program and the Library. She was amazed that many people did not know about A.K. Smiley Public Library or the Adult Literacy Program. Through this outreach, more than eight people volunteered to become literacy tutors.

Kim Green, a Friends board member, volunteer tutor, and Adult Literacy computer class instructor, shared: Volunteering as a tutor with the Adult Literacy Program led me to become involved with the Friends of the Library, and I’m very proud of what both organizations provide to the Redlands community. As a volunteer tutor, I have witnessed firsthand the life-changing power learning to read holds. What most of us take for granted – being able to understand job applications or driver license tests, helping our children with their homework, reading signs and menus – is a daunting if not impossible challenge for more than 20 percent of our community. The Adult Literacy Program is comprised of people of all ages and cultural and ethnic backgrounds, bound by the common belief that the ability to read, write, and communicate is imperative for connecting with our families, community, and world. I am incredibly proud to live where the powerful skill of literacy is available to anyone who expresses their interest and willingness to commit to the work necessary.

The Friends, literacy staff, and adult literacy volunteers witness the life-changing impact of adult literacy as adult learners reach their goals of obtaining new or better jobs, pursing their own education, helping their children with schoolwork, navigating medical decisions, volunteering in the community, earning their citizenship, and gaining self-esteem.

The Adult Literacy Program needs more volunteers to help adults improve their reading and writing skills. Please consider attending the next tutor orientation scheduled for August 22, 2023. If you have any questions or would like to attend the orientation, please contact Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at 909.798.7565, ext. 4109 or email literacy@akspl.org

If you know someone who needs literacy services, please ask them to contact Diane Shimota. All literacy services are free and confidential. Training, materials, and ongoing support are provided. As many literacy volunteers say, “This is the best volunteer opportunity in Redlands!”

Adult Literacy changes lives of adults and their families

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During the pandemic, many libraries and adult literacy programs in California closed. Determined to meet the needs of adult learners, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program continued to provide services throughout the pandemic. While a few adult learners found that distance learning during the pandemic was too much of a challenge and took a break from their literacy studies, many former and new learners have recently joined the adult literacy program with a renewed focus on improving their reading and writing.

Newly established reading and writing requirements at their jobs prompted several of the new learners to join the literacy program. Some people joined the literacy program to better their writing skills before applying to college. One learner is working with a tutor to gain proficiency in the civics and literacy skills required for her citizenship interview, and several new learners want to be able to read stories to their children and help them with homework.

So far this fiscal year, over 30 tutors and learners have been matched. Tutor training and tutor-learner workshops are in full swing to support adult learners in reaching their goals.

Alexandra and Barbara at the Writer-to-Writer Challenge Awards event

One of the program’s new learners is Alexandra Suarez who joined the Redlands Adult Literacy Program last year. Alexandra’s goals are to become more involved in the community, build her vocabulary, read books with understanding, and support her children in their school work. As a mother, she understands that reading is important for the entire family.

Working with her tutor, Barbara Vester, Alexandra has learned valuable literacy skills. Alexandra’s reading comprehension has improved and she has seen significant improvement in her writing skills. She participated in the Writer-to-Writer Challenge for adult learners last year and was selected as a runner-up in the Southern California competition. She uses writing strategies that she learned from her tutor to support her daughter with schoolwork; and with her guidance, Alexandra’s young daughter has also become a good writer. A.K. Smiley Public Library is her children’s second home; they participate in weekly story time events and the Family Literacy Program, an offshoot of the Adult Literacy Program.

Alexandra always wanted to help in the community, but before joining the Adult Literacy Program she did not feel comfortable going to her daughter’s school to volunteer. With her new literacy skills, Alexandra is confident in her communication skills and she volunteers regularly at her daughter’s elementary school. Participating in the literacy program has let her know that she can help others and she sees herself in a new way. Alexandra encourages people to join the Adult Literacy Program because participants will see the changes in themselves and their families.

Barbara Vester, Alexandra’s tutor, says that by volunteering with the literacy program she is able to see how the impact of her service has helped change her learner’s life. Alexandra has become an engaged member of the community, she is better able to support her children with homework, and she has gained the confidence to live a life that she finds more fulfilling.

As the literacy program grows, the demand for tutors increases and more volunteers are needed. Would you like to help someone learn to read and write? Consider attending and inviting someone you know to come to the next volunteer tutor orientation scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, at 6:00 p.m. in the Library Assembly Room. If you have questions or plan to attend the tutor orientation, please call Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4138, or email literacy@akspl.org. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, help them make the first step in changing their lives by encouraging them to contact Diane Shimota. All literacy services are free and confidential.

Redlands Adult Literacy Program welcomes two AmeriCorps members

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Two AmeriCorps members have joined the Redlands Adult Literacy leadership team. The California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) and Literacyworks, a nonprofit that supports literacy programs, recently collaborated with California Volunteers/AmeriCorps to build capacity in adult and family literacy programs throughout the state of California. Through the CLLS AmeriCorps Initiative, A.K. Smiley Public Library was awarded two part-time AmeriCorps members for one year to help enhance literacy programs in Redlands.

AmeriCorps is often referred to as the “Domestic Peace Corps” as its members are engaged in service to local communities. AmeriCorps members help communities prosper and bring Americans together by working with communities to ensure that people have access to the help they need.

The mission of AmeriCorps closely aligns with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program’s goal to provide one-on-one tutoring to adults who are working to improve their reading and writing skills in order to improve their and their family’s lives. The AmeriCorps members are working under the direction of Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, to provide additional tutoring, assist with tutor training, promote continuing education, and expand literacy outreach efforts within Redlands.

Ann Sandin is a literacy tutor who joined AmeriCorps because she wanted to apply her background as an educator in a new, more community-based manner. She began her AmeriCorps service at A.K. Smiley Public Library on November 1st.  In addition to tutoring two adult learners, she provides drop-in tutoring on Saturday afternoons for adult learners who are waiting for tutors or who want a little extra help with computer basics. Her goals are to help expand literacy services throughout the Redlands community, make tutor training more interactive, and to deepen her own understanding of the literacy challenges facing so many adults.

Melany Chong and Ann Sandin,
AmeriCorps members

AmeriCorps member Melany Chong has been active in the family literacy program at Smiley Library for over a year. The family literacy program is designed to involve parents enrolled in the adult literacy program with the opportunity to help enhance their children’s learning by providing educational experiences and books that encourage reading. The parents’ involvement with family literacy highlights the value of education in these families.

Melany is a college student who plans to become an elementary school educator with an emphasis in bilingual literacy. She provides creative input during the planning of monthly family literacy meetings and co-leads the meetings by reading books aloud, leading program activities, and patiently teaching crafts to children. Melany joined AmeriCorps because of her desire to gain real-world experience and be more involved in the Redlands community, where she grew up. She said, “I like to see how the children progress meeting after meeting and witness the growth of their enthusiasm for literacy.”

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program focuses on the goals of individual adult learners and their families.  Program speakers are available to meet with organizations that are interested in learning more about the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. Please call Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org if you are interested in learning more about the adult literacy speaker program.

The Redlands Adult Literacy program relies on its wonderful volunteer tutors to provide free instruction in reading and writing. Contact Diane Shimota if you are interested in attending the next volunteer tutor orientation scheduled for Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at 6:00 pm in the Library Assembly Room. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to contact Diane Shimota at A. K. Smiley Public Library. All literacy services are free and confidential.

The Redlands community celebrates Adult Literacy Day in Redlands

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The City Council proclaimed September 25, 2022 Adult Literacy Day in the city of Redlands, recognizing that adults who improve their literacy skills can advance their employment, further their education, and help their children in school. Through the proclamation, the City Council commended the efforts of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program’s adult learners, volunteers, and community partners. By improving their reading and writing, adult learners can provide a better future for themselves, their families, and their community.

In honor of Adult Literacy Day, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program invited the Redlands community to hear adult-learner authors read their works that were recently published in the fifth volume of Our Stories, A Collection of Writings. In this volume, adult learners wrote about their journeys to literacy, important memories, joys, dreams, everyday annoyances, and reflections on books that they had read. This volume also included collaborative stories from children who participate in the family literacy program and poetry from computer and conversation classes.

Over 150 learners, tutors, their families, and community members gathered on September 25 to celebrate the learners’ works. Adult Literacy Coordinator Diane Shimota, Library Director Don McCue, and Mayor Paul Barich welcomed the attendees. Mayor Barich emphasized the importance of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program and the value it brings to the entire community.

Darcel and Bris at the celebration of authors

The core principle of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program is to assist learners in reaching their reading and writing goals by working with a tutor one-on-one. This goal was beautifully reflected in Darcel Cannady and Briseiry Roque’s anthology submission, Two Voices, which emphasized that tutor-learner teams have much in common and much to learn from each other. After the celebration, Darcel and Briseiry expressed their appreciation to all the people who made the author celebration possible. This was the first adult literacy event they had attended, and they both felt like they were part of a community of supporters.

Author Rossy Le joined the literacy program in 2022 and worked with her tutor, Sharon Regalado, to write two stories for the anthology. At the event, she was very excited to see the community of adult literacy tutors and learners that she had joined, and to read her story, Mochi’s Rat, aloud. She was nervous about reading, but found confidence and assurance through the process. Afterwards, Rossy observed that all the authors who read their stories did so with confidence that they gained through improving their literacy.

Author Magdalena Rebollar read her story, My Dream to Improve Myself, which included her experience of being unable to get an education in her home country because her family was too poor.  Now that her children are older, Magdalena can meet with her tutor to learn reading and writing skills that will enable her to complete her education. She is grateful for the support of her tutor, Lauri Jones, whose patience and guidance makes this learning possible.

Seventeen additional authors read their works at the author celebration. After hearing their works, attendees commented on the authenticity of the stories and the value that sharing their stories brought to the community. Community representatives Rebecca McCurdy, President, Friends of the Library, Kate Pretorius, Library Trustee, and Toni Momberger, Executive Editor, Follow Our Courts, spoke about their literacy experiences and the courage it takes, as an adult, to work on this vital skill.

We invite you to read Our Stories, A Collection of Writings. All five volumes are available in the Adult Literacy collection at A. K. Smiley Public Library. To purchase your own copy of the anthology, search for ‘Redlands Adult Literacy Program’ at Amazon.com. You are also invited to watch the recordings of the adult-learner authors who recently videotaped their works. These recordings will be available at www.akspl.org/literacy in October.

After the event, one tutor said that if she wasn’t already a tutor, she would be signing up to become one! The Redlands Adult Literacy Program relies on its wonderful volunteer tutors to provide free instruction in reading and writing. The next volunteer tutor orientation is Wednesday, October 19, at 6:00 pm in the Library Assembly Room. If you are interested in learning more about the Redlands Adult Literacy Program and becoming a tutor, please call Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their lives by contacting Diane Shimota. All literacy services are free and confidential.