The National Literacy Act of 1991 defines literacy as " . . .an individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English, and 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."

• There are literacy programs in adult schools, churches, community centers, and businesses as well as libraries.
• The Santa Fe Springs City Library has offered free literacy services to adults, children, and families since 1987.
• Our confidential adult literacy service is available to all English-speaking patrons of the library. Those who cannot speak and understand English are referred to local programs to learn conversation first. Then they may enroll in our literacy program.
• Over 40 million Americans age 16 and older have significant literacy needs. In Los Angeles County, there are 1.8 million adults with limited reading and writing skills.
• Forty-three percent of first-year students in the California State University system require remedial reading instruction.
• Research supports a strong link between the home environment and children's acquisition of school-based literacy.
• Businesses that provide basic skills training experience a 19 percent greater increase in productivity than companies that did not provide such training.
  

Referrals

• To find information at the national level, call the National Institute For Literacy in Washington, D.C. at 1-800-228-8813, or go to their web site at http://www.nifl.gov
• To locate a program in the Los Angeles or Orange County area, call 1-800-707-7323.
• To locate a library literacy program near your home or place of work, log onto the Southern California Library Literacy Network web site: http://www.sclln.org
• To locate a program in other areas, call the National Literacy Hotline at 1-800-228-8813.

Important Links
http://literacyworks.org/clls/index.html	California Library Literacy Services
http://www.literacycenter.net	Literacy Center Education Network
http://www.literacynet.org/cgi-bin/hubiv/sra/sra.cgi	California Adult Literacy Statistics