When did it start?

• In 1984 The California Literacy Campaign was born.
• In 1985 The State Legislature established support for library services under The California Library Services Act.
• In 1986 The Adult Literacy Program of The Sonoma County Library was established.

Who are our students?

• Our students are 18 and older (the exception to this is if they are over 16 and have a child)
• A student must speak enough English to speak to his/her tutor.

How does a student enroll in the program?

• A student must call the office and make an appointment to have an orientation and an assessment.
• The orientation is to give details to the student about our program and to ensure that this is the best program for the student.
• The assessment is for us to learn more about the reading level of the student. Students must enroll for a six-month period and be able to meet weekly for a minimum of 2 hours.

What do we provide?

• We match a student with a tutor who will work one-to-one with the student.
• All books and materials are free.

Where do the student and tutor meet?

• They meet in their local library.
• We want the student to be exposed to all the other wonderful programs that the library offers.

What are the Volunteer Opportunities and Training?

• All of our tutors are volunteers. To become a tutor you must attend an orientation and a training workshop.
• For more information, call our office at (707) 544-2622 or email us at literacy@sonomalibrary.org.
• The training and books are free.
• Both student and tutor will work together for a minimum of six months for two hours per week.

What qualifications do I need to become a tutor?

• Tutors must be at least 18 years old, speak English and have a high school diploma or GED.
• Previous tutoring experience is not required.  We provide training and ongoing support.

What is the philosophy of the program?

• We are learner centered. We work on the individual goals of the student.
• The goals are as diverse as the people we serve. That goal can be anything from wanting to learn how to write a check, helping a child with his/her homework, reading an email, becoming a citizen, reading a map, writing a letter to the school, to getting a better job.