Close To Home: Library-Based Family Literacy

MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour commentator Judy Woodruff is the host for this introduction to creating a library-based family literacy program. Using the Bell Atlantic/ALA Family Literacy Project as a model, the program begins with the proverbial "needs assessment" (how on Earth did we ever survive before "needs assessments"?). The program offers suggestions for building a literacy team within the library (often comprised of a children's librarian and an adults services librarian), and gives examples of developing a community coalition (teaming up with members of the local school, church, and business community and/or groups such as "Literacy Volunteers of America"). Finally, the tape points out ways to recruit participants: there's the old elbow grease way (door-to-door), and then there's the more subtle reel-'em-in with the 3 F's way (fun, free, food). Various existing models are shown throughout the tape, including a successful program in Fauquier County, VA where 1 in 5 people are functionally illiterate. The only sour note in this otherwise good introduction to the subject is former ALA President Pat Berger's opening remark in which she draws on a current pet statistic in the profession that by the year 2000 (which incidentally in less than 8 years away) some two-thirds of the populace will be illiterate. This remark should have made her nose grow, but it didn't. This aside, Close to Home: Library-Based Family Literacy is a good inspirational video for libraries who want to get more involved in literacy programs. Recommended. (Available from: ALA Video/Library Video Network, 320 York Rd., Towson, MD 21204; (800) 441-TAPE.)