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0-4. CALIFORNIA
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WHEREAS, a November 2013 report issued by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), Skills Outlook 2013: First Results from the Survey of Adult Skills, provides
comparative statistics on adult literacy for 23 OECD member and partner countries. The United States
ranks 16th in this assessment, with scores significantly below the international average. The most recent
California studies available indicate that nearly 23 percent of California's adults lack basic literacy skills,
severely impacting their lives and families, their ability to work productively, and their full participation as
citizens and residents of our state; and
WHEREAS, many adults with low literacy skills are in their prime wage earning years, and struggle to
fill out a job application, write a resume, or read a voter's guide. And as parents are their children's first
teachers, the children of low -literate adults have greater challenges in gaining the competencies they
need to succeed in school and in life. California's economic growth, prosperity, government and culture
depend on an educated citizenry, the foundation of which is the ability to read and understand the written
word. The level of literacy needed to function in the workplace, the community, and the home has risen
steadily with the advance of 1;echnology and the information age; and
WHEREAS, recognizing the need to foster adult and family literacy and the importance of reading and
lifelong learning, in 1984 the California Legislature established California Library Literacy Services, to
promote literacy by providing services to English-speaking adult learners and their families throug h
California's public libraries. Administered by the California State Library, this program has made great
strides In improving adult literacy in our state. Each year, over 10,000 trained volunteers in over 800
library locations statewide provide one-on-one literacy tutoring for more than 22,000 adult learners, These
volunteers work with learners to set and achieve real -life literacy goals, such as reading to their children,
using the Internet, or applying for a jab. In 2011112, of those who set a goal to be able to read a book to
their children, 79 percent achieved it. Of those who set a goal of finding a job, 65 percent were able to
complete a job application, 57 percent could write a resume, and 31 percent actually secured a new job or
were promoted at work; and
WHEREAS our state's library literacy program makes a difference. As one former participant said, "I
remember the night l would have graduated from high school ... a sinking feeling came over me that my
life was going to be dificult...fit's] like a minefield not being able to read or write in a literate world. Each
day you walk out that door, there's a challenge out there waiting for you. There's always that possibility
of being discovered as a non-reader. I knew that 1 had to change. I remember calling dovm to the library
and making an appointment. They did an assessment to find out what my reading and writing and
spelling and grammar was. And at the end they said it was somewhere between a third and fourth grade
level. My first tutor was Lindy. She was the first one that ever said to me, '1 believe you can do it,' and
today I'm sitting here with a bachelor's degree. It took you in my life —and for that 1 will always be
indebted and grateful to you."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, 1, Ron Morrison, Mayor National City, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the City of National City, hereunto set my hand and affix the official seal and
together with the City Council do hereby proclaim the month of September 2014, as:
LITERACY AWARENESS MONTH!
I call upon the citizens of the City of National City to take the time to encourage those adults who come
forward, often against many odds, to seek and receive literacy services; and thank the public library staff
and volunteers who dedicate their time ark, 'lls to assist adult learners and their families to achieve a
better life. e