SCLS: Literacy Suffolk, Inc.

The National Literacy Act defines literacy as "an individual's ability to read, write and speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals, and develop one's knowledge and potential."

The mission of Literacy Suffolk is to promote increased literacy to adults through the effective use of trained volunteers, the provision of support services for volunteers and learners, and collaboration with individuals, groups, or organizations concerned with advancing literacy.

Literacy Suffolk, Inc. has been serving adults throughout Suffolk County since 1978. Established by the Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS) under the name Literacy Volunteers of America-Suffolk County, the organization still maintains its administrative office at SCLS.

Literacy Suffolk recruits and trains volunteers who provide free instruction on a one-to-one or small group basis for adults in need of basic literacy skills—reading, writing and/or speaking English (ESOL). A high school diploma is required to become a volunteer. Volunteer tutors develop their skills and techniques by attending a required 24-hour tutor training workshop. Workshops are held at local libraries throughout Suffolk County.

After successfully completing a workshop, trained tutors are matched with learners. Each volunteer is asked to tutor 2 to 3 hours a week, for at least one year, usually at a local library. Other volunteer opportunities are available to trained tutors. During the last program year, 722 active tutors and 276 active volunteers served 1,979 learners. The current countywide student waiting list is greater than 700!

Based on the most recent results provided by the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS)*, an estimated 90 million adults in the United States (47% of the adult population) do not have the literacy skills to fully function and participate in society. Of that number, 21 to 23 percent are considered functionally illiterate. In Suffolk County, one in seven adults struggles with limited reading, writing, and/or English-speaking skills. *For more information about NALS and statistics on adult literacy, visit www.nifl.gov/lincs.

• The Flame of Literacy - Quarterly newsletter
• Reading for Life - Magazine of student writing (annual)
• Recognition Celebration - recognizes the efforts of volunteers and learners (annual)
• Library Literacy Collections/Computer-Assisted Instruction
• Workplace Literacy
• Health Literacy
• Law Literacy
• ESOL Conversation Groups
• Tutor Support Groups
• Speakers' Bureau
• Referral Services

Literacy Suffolk is a non-profit agency funded, in part, by the State Education Department, Suffolk County, Library Literacy Grants, other federal and state grants, SCLS, corporations, foundations, special events and individual donors. Space and considerable in-kind services are furnished by the SCLS.

Maxine Jurow, Executive Director
Gini Booth, Associate Director
Janet L. Downs, Communications Director
Jan L. Johnson, Finance Manager
Trish Kantrowitz, Education Director
Carol Mauro, Community Development Director
Suzanne Smith, Program Services Director
Sondra Swarbrick, Office Volunteer
Jo Troy, Executive Assistant
Christine Vasell, Database Manager

To help serve their surrounding communities, several regional offices have been established at the following locations:

Western Region - Huntington Public Library (Station Branch)
Liz Mayers, Coordinator

Southern Region - Amityville Public Library
Elizabeth Kijek, Coordinator

Mid-Suffolk Region - Middle Country Public Library
Loretta Piscatella, Coordinator

Central Region - Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library
Beth Donovan, Coordinator

Eastern Region - Riverhead Free Library
Nancy Whitt, Coordinator

Adult Literacy Center at Stony Brook University
Cindy Brodsky, Coordinator

In cooperation with:
Brookhaven National Laboratory Literacy Center
Jennifer Lynch, Coordinator