CITY COUNCIL AGENDA PACKET - Laserfiche WebLink

Page 2 of 4 space. Program Impact In FY 2023/24, 84 trained volunteer tutors provided 2,750 instructional hours to 98 adult learners through Pleasanton Reads. The program is in high demand, with an average of 47 to 57 individuals on the waitlist in the current year, reflecting ongoing community demand for one- on-one language learning support. One Pleasanton Reads participant shared how their family, newly arrived from Lebanon, made the literacy program a part of their daily routine, walking nearly an hour each way to access services: “We were exhausted and felt like we were making an enormous effort just to catch up, but the Library cared so much about people like us who didn’t speak English or know how to start.” Through the program, they were matched with a volunteer tutor. “It was such a personal and supportive experience,” they said. “My tutor helped me learn to read and write better in English, and that made a real difference in my life.” While the Library operates the Pleasanton Reads program, CLLS grant funding enhances its reach by supporting intake, volunteer coordination, and instructional resources. Participation in a CLLS-funded program requires that learners: • Be at least 16 years old and not enrolled in high school or another degree-granting program • Seek literacy services for themselves in English • Complete in English an intake interview and a skills assessment that includes reading and writing skills • Have established one or more learning goals related to reading and/or writing • Spend most of their instructional time improving reading or writing skills • Attend at least two instructional sessions in the current program period. To expand its impact, the Library collaborates with Pleasanton Unified School District’s Adult School and Las Positas College’s ESL program. While schools offer excellent academic instruction, the Library complements this with one-on-one support focused on individual goals, reading and writing fluency, and conversation skills. Together, these services provide a holistic model that addresses the full range of learner needs. DISCUSSION If approved, the application for FY 2025/26 CLLS grant funding (Attachment 1), would advance the following Adult Literacy Services program goals: • Provide support for waitlisted learners via resources (book clubs, language learning app) and referrals to partner agencies for classroom instruction • Participate in CLLS-sponsored trainings and workshops for literacy staff, and promote such opportunities to volunteers and learners • Collaborate with community partners to close service gaps for learners and provide quality referrals based on learner needs/goals • Inform learners and volunteers of program, library, and community activities to encourage engagement, foster interpersonal connections, and inspire new language Page 113 of 864