The Redlands community is invited to join the Adult Literacy Program in its “Celebration of Authors.” Adult Learners will read from their works which were published in the adult literacy anthology, Our Stories, a Collection of Writings. Community leaders, including Mayor Paul Barich and Library Trustee Kate Pretorius, will describe their own literacy journeys, and the life-changing impact of literacy. The community of Redlands is invited to this festive event in gratitude for their continued support of adult literacy, particularly through the difficult years of the pandemic. The celebration will be held on September 25, 2022, beginning at 2:00 p.m., in the Contemporary Club. Registration is required.
Martha Green’s
The 2022 edition of Our Stories, a Collection of Writings, is the fifth anthology published by the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. This year, Mark Corrin, one of four authors who have submitted writings to all five volumes of the anthology, wrote “My Work at Martha Green’s.” In his story Mark wrote about starting work at the age of 20, and how much he loves his job, his customers and co-workers, and even his favorite menu item at Martha Green’s.
Ma, Isabel Vidrio has also published works in each of the five anthologies. This year she wrote two stories: one to R.J. Palacio, the author of the book, White Bird, and another personal story about a fire in her kitchen. Mark and Isabel have shown tremendous growth in their ability to express themselves. Their writings are a gift to the community.
Many adults who enroll in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program are anxious about their writing skills. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program uses multiple strategies to address this common concern and to help learners develop the skills needed for employment and communication with teachers, family, and friends. For example, tutors and learners use dialog journals to write short messages to one another. Computer classes integrate writing with technology lessons. Literacy teams practice steps in the writing process, beginning with brainstorming ideas and continuing through the final steps of editing and then publishing their writings. Topic ideas are generated through picture books, poem templates, story starters, and conversation.
Each edition of Our Stories, a Collection of Writings honors the hard work of the learners and tutors by including the unique stories of learners in the program. The 2022 anthology includes selections on learners’ memories, experiences that have changed them, captured moments, and reflections on books learners have read. This volume also includes a new selection of group submissions from adult literacy computer classes and collaborative stories from children participating in the Family Literacy Program.
Joan Wells, chair of the Adult Literacy Anthology Committee, shared her thoughts about the literacy anthology, “As I reflect upon the writings in Our Stories over the past five years, I’m inspired by the journeys that have led learners to our adult literacy community and resulted in so many accomplishments. Some have grown up in Redlands. Others have traveled great distances and across cultures to join us. All have demonstrated resilience and a dedication to learning. Similarly, our tutors come from many backgrounds, joining the community to give back through their love of reading and writing. Working together, learners and tutors have given the community five volumes of authentic essays, reflections, and poems. Their literacy journeys enhance our own as they make real the library’s mission to serve as a center for lifelong learning for which “the only admission fee is curiosity.””
We look forward to sharing Our Stories, a Collection of Writings, Volume 5 with the Redlands community at the September 25th Celebration of Authors. Registration for the event is required and will begin on September 1, 2022. Registration is free and information will be found at www.akspl.org.
The Redlands Adult Literacy Program relies on its wonderful volunteer tutors to provide one-on-on tutoring to adults in our community. The next volunteer tutor orientation is scheduled for October 12, 2022 at 6 p.m. at the library. Perhaps 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 the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. If you have any questions about the Celebration of Authors, are interested in becoming a tutor, or would like literacy services, please contact Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org. Literacy services are free and confidential.
Summer is in full swing, weather-wise, and reading-wise, here in southern California at A.K. Smiley Public Library! Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” The Youth Services Crew brainstormed a fabulous Summer Reading Game this year…a weekly game of “Capture the Flag!” We have challenged the Adult Services Department to a reading challenge of who can read the most pages…kids or adults?! We are currently into Week 5 and going strong! The current, fourth week score is: Kids: 492,122/Adults: 84,902.
Toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens can sign up in the Young Readers’ Room anytime. We have special reading logs for each age group, and prizes, oh yes, we have prizes! Toddlers (ages 0 – 3) can earn a sticker each week for turning in their reading logs. The kids (ages 4 – 9) will earn a different prize each week for turning in their reading logs. Tweens (ages 10 – 12) and teens (ages 13 – 19) will earn one ticket for every 50 pages they read. The tickets are then distributed to one of the many prizes they’d like to try to win. We have such a generous community of businesses that have donated gift cards again this year for the Youth Services Summer Reading Challenge: A’la Minute; Look Cinema; Happy Camper Creamery; Flowstone Climbing; Nichos Ice Cream; Cookie Co.; Tie Dye Tees; Redlands Art Association; The Frugal Frigate; and Jack’s Toy Shop matched a grant with the City to donate. A great big THANK YOU to all of these businesses who so generously gave from their shops to our kids! We appreciate it!! We have also purchased other gift cards as well, so we have a nice selection of gift cards to choose from.
Don’t despair adults, you will have the opportunity to win a gift card as well! There are other businesses who donated gift cards towards the Adult Services Reading Challenge, as well as the gift cards that the library or The Friends of the Library purchased: Bricks & Birch; Saverino’s; Olive Avenue Market; Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant; A’ La Minute; The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe; Carolyn’s Café, and The Breakfast Shack…and the GRAND PRIZE winner will receive a $100 shopping spree from Gerrard’s Market!
Teens, don’t you fret, we also have two more programs for you this summer as well! We’ve been having a great time with you all during the summer. The next event will be Wednesday, July 27, “Survival Skills,” with The University of Redlands Outdoor Programs. Our Grand Finale for the teens (ages 13 – 19) will be an anime workshop with world renown Carlos Nieto: 
“What I’ve enjoyed most though is meeting people who have a real interest in food and sharing ideas with them. Good food is a global thing and I find that there is always something new and amazing to learn – I love it!” – Jamie Oliver
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Whether you are slurping, scooping, or twisting them, noodles are a fun food to eat. “
Have you ever visited a Chinese Bakery? If not, then let Kristina Cho, in her new book “
I began contemplating this topic while reading 
Two other award-winner titles deal with the harrowing true accounts of recent refugees.
One other new contribution, 
An exciting new addition to our eResources is the database 
Do you plan to travel to distant lands this summer? Then check out