Recently the San Jose Public Library featured an interesting web resource called Statistic Brain. This website has statistics on a wide range of topics. Partners in Reading looked at the numbers for people in the U. S. and throughout the world who lack literacy.

Some of the appalling numbers are that almost a quarter of the population in this country reads below the 5th grade level and that almost 20% of high school graduates have troubles reading. Another shocker is that 63% of inmates don't read well. There is a strong connection between limited literacy and poor health, crime, and poverty, among many other problems that our society faces.

Statistic Brain also has data on the difference that a high school graduate will earn annually compared to a high school dropout - $14,117.

We encourage you to take a look and also to join Partners in Reading to help adults in San Jose read and write better. Orientation and training start on September 19th, 2012. Please call Partners in Reading at (408) 808-2361 for more information.

Would you like to help families read together and break the cycle of low literacy? You can do that by donating a book to the Partners in Reading (PAR) book drive. One of the most important ways to ensure literacy in children is to read aloud to them every day and read together as a family. In order to do that families need books and home libraries. PAR encourages you to donate a book to help families read and learn together. Drop off your new book at the PAR office in the King Library or at your branch library. Mark it PAR book drive and know that you are helping families.

You can also visit Hicklebee's and buy your book there or you can donate online. For further inspiration you can look at the teen's book list and the kids' book lists. Below are some of the titles that have already been donated.

Read this San Jose Mercury News article about PAR's book drive to learn more.

Do you like to read? Change an adult's life by becoming a volunteer adult literacy tutor with Partners in Reading (PAR). You can help an adult or a small group of adults build reading and writing skills. Help them write a resume, read a book to a child, write a grocery list, or accomplish many other tasks small and large that will improve the quality of their lives.

Tutor orientation begins on March 13, 2013, at the King Library followed by tutor training on March 16 and March 23. Tutoring can take place in all San José Public Library branches or in other public places. We ask for a minimum 6-month commitment of 3 hours per week after training. Call PAR now at (408) 808-2361 for more information and to sign up, or visit the PAR website.

Rudy is an adult in a library literacy program. In this video he reads a letter he wrote to his tutor about how she changed his life. His tutor has volunteered for more than 10 years and has changed the lives of many adults.

You can help an adult improve reading and writing skills by becoming a volunteer tutor. Being a tutor is rewarding and exciting because you will open doors for an adult who will be able to do more.

Almost half of adults in the U. S. have some type of reading or writing problem that prevents them from functioning effectively at home, at work, and in the community. Partners in Reading is welcoming a new group of enthusiastic volunteer tutors who are being trained to work with adults with limited literacy. The volunteers will help adults read to their children, read directions on medicine bottles, and write grocery lists, among many other goals. They will help adults get jobs and do their jobs better. To join the next Partners in Reading tutor training, please call (408) 808-2361 or visit the Partners in Reading office on the first floor of the King Library. You can also learn more about Partners in Reading on our website.