The following article was published in the Ventura County Star, November 14, 2005.

UNLIMITED HORIZONS

English literacy taught at library in Santa Paula

Imagine, if you will, not being able to read. Imagine driving down a highway and not being able to read the names of the street exits. Imagine not being able to read instructions on prescription bottles or on

job applications or sharing a storybook with your 5-year-old.
     In the United States, there are more than 23 million adults who are unable to read. It is difficult for those of us who can read to imagine such a thing, and yet it is all around us.
     All nonprofits seem to have "dreamers" somewhere in their organizations. One such person is Elaine Hunt, longtime Santa Paula resident and former school teacher. She realized that there was a tremendous need in the community for people to be able to read and speak the English language. Thus the Santa Paula Blanchard Community Library's Family Literacy Aid In Reading program was born and will celebrate its 20th anniversary next month.
     It is always a delight to visit the Santa Paula Library. It is a hub of activity most nights. Parents visit with their little ones, schoolchildren do their homework with the aid of computers, and a library employee is there to help with any tough problems. The reading program coordinator is Kathryn Bornhauser, who has been with the program for 10 years. It is she who will test and evaluate the "learners," as the program participants are called. With a series of simple tests she can determine whether they are right for the program. The tests cover reading, writing, grammar and spelling. Presently there are 60 learners who visit twice a week for an hour at a time. There is a waiting list of 15 people, which means a wait time of from three to six months.
     The tutors are all volunteers who give their time to gain those substantial rewards of seeing their learners being able to read and speak English. There are 49 volunteer tutors presently, and there is a need for more. The tutors receive four hours training, backed with videos, which show the different approaches to be made with adults and children. They also attend workshops. Last year the tutors spent 2,704 hours tutoring, a very impressive record.
     I wanted to see for myself how a tutoring session was done, so I met Maureen Harrigan, a volunteer tutor who comes to the library after she has finished her regular job. Her learners were Esperanza and Fidelina Magana, Latina cousins.
     When I asked, "Are you married?" they both started to giggle, thinking I meant to each other, hence the difficulties of learning the English language and of my not making my questions pointed enough. They both make their living by housekeeping for English-speaking families in Santa Paula. They both want to be able to communicate with their employers and are totally devoted to the reading program. Harrigan has been tutoring them since July and splits the session up by talking with them both about their jobs, and then going into the more difficult test work. They are both eager and interested in learning.
     In most of the sessions, the primary focus is on the one-on-one tutoring. The program is free and open to anyone over 18. Presently, the oldest student is 60.
     With 76 percent of the population of Santa Paula being Latino, it is clear that many people could use this service. Since many cannot read Spanish or English, people will learn of the program through word of mouth. Sometimes their children will tell them.
     Can you imagine how it must feel when they graduate and are able to pick books from the many shelves in the library, take them home and read them. What a joy!
     If you are interested in helping the Santa Paula Blanchard Community Library's Family Literacy Aid In Reading program, either with a monetary donation or your time, call Kathryn Bornhauser at 525-2384 or visit the Blanchard Community Library at 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula, and see this wonderful program in action.

-- Margaret Nesbitt is a Star columnist. She welcomes comments and suggestions about subjects of interest to seniors. Letters can be sent to Unlimited Horizons, c/o Karen Hibdon, Ventura County Star, P.O. Box 6711, Ventura, CA 93006-6711.

Posted 11/22/05 mlb