In 1986 when Ronald Reagan was President of the United States, he proclaimed the month of September as Adult Literacy Awareness Month. Libraries and literacy groups today are working together to continue to make others aware of this issue, including the Burbank Library, which has been an advocate for literacy awareness for many years. One out of five adults has trouble filling out forms, taking the DMV license exam without assistance, helping their children with homework, addressing an envelope, or writing a check. Reagan realized the impact that adult illiteracy has on the country. Here are some excerpts from his 1986 proclamation:

“The incidence of illiteracy and functional illiteracy among the Nation’s adult population negatively affects our economy, our social institutions, and our security. It also limits the opportunities open to those who lack basic reading and writing skills. Estimates of the number of illiterate or functionally illiterate Americans range from twenty-three million to over fifty million.”

“Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of September 1986 as Adult Literacy Awareness Month. I call on the American people and organizations of every kind to observe the month with activities to increase awareness of the problem of adult illiteracy and to encourage involvement in programs to help eliminate illiteracy and functional illiteracy among adults in our Nation.”

To check out the full proclamation, visit the Burbank Library Blog.

The Burbank Library has provided literacy services since 1992. Their mission is to help create a better informed community in which literacy helps parents read to their children, improves job prospects for adults, and leads families towards positive life choices. They offer free one-on-one tutoring for adults who read and write below an 8^th grade level. The library also provides youth literacy programs geared toward 4^th thru 12^th graders who read below grade level. If you’ve ever thought of helping out with a literacy program, consider becoming a volunteer with the Burbank Library. No experience is necessary and the library provides volunteers with a 15-hour tutoring workshop.

For more info on these programs, click here.

Photo Courtesy of the Burbank Library.

No related posts.