We thank the B.C. Ministry of Education, Skills and Training and the National Literacy Secretariat for funding the following four projects through the 1996/97 B.C. literacy cost-shared program:
Provincial Literacy Information, Referral and Resource Services | Longitudinal Research: Emerging Issues on Learner Motivation, Access, Participation, and Dropout | Regional Literacy Coordinators Project | Provincial Literacy Library/Resource Centre Implementation Project
Provincial Literacy Information, Referral and Resource Services
Literacy B.C. will provide a comprehensive provincial literacy information and referral service. The service will include:
- maintaining a provincial toll-free number to provide literacy information to the field and the public, including potential learners and volunteer tutors
- distributing information about literacy and ABE programs in B.C.
- providing mailing lists to the B.C. literacy field
- informing the literacy and ABE fields of current issues, events, initiatives and resources
- increasing public awareness about literacy in B.C. and literacy issues.
Longitudinal Research:
Emerging Issues
on Learner Motivation, Access, Participation, and Dropout
Literacy B.C. will conduct a longitudinal research study from calls to our provincial toll-free number by adults who want to upgrade their literacy skills.
The study will collect information from callers about:
- what motivates them to improve their skills
- the barriers and supports they experience as they try to access and participate in a literacy program
- the impacts and outcomes of participation in a literacy program
- why they choose not to participate or to drop-out.
One of the main purposes of the study is to increase our knowledge about how the current economy and social policies affect the B.C. population with low literacy skills. A report of the findings will be published and widely distributed.
Participation in the study by callers to Literacy B.C. will be completely voluntary and the confidentiality of personal information protected.
Regional Literacy Coordinators Project
The Regional Literacy Coordinators Project is designed to strengthen and support regional literacy networks and to develop models for regional literacy coordination in B.C.
The project has been funded by the B.C. literacy cost-shared program since 1995. The 1996/97 regional literacy coordinators are:
- May Boychuk, Northern Lights
- Paula Davies, New Caledonia
- Leona Gadsby, East Kootenay
- Norah McLean, Malaspina and North Island
- Maureen Stephens, Okanagan
- To be announced, Selkirk
The objectives of the project are to:
- Provide consultation, information, and support to the regions.
- Coordinate professional development training for the literacy and ABE field.
- Enhance the regional resource collections and make them available to the field and the public.
- Assist and encourage the development of regional networks.
- Provide learner mentorships in three regions. The mentorships will develop the learners' skills in organizing, planning, communicating and networking.
- Contact government and community agencies regarding policies and legislation that affect access to literacy training. Identify emerging issues in the literacy field.
- Produce a literacy community development manual.
Provincial Literacy Library/Resource Centre Implementation Project
Literacy B.C. will plan and implement a centralized provincial literacy resource library.
The project will catalogue and bar code over 2,800 resources held by Literacy B.C. An automated on-loan circulation system, with on-line public access, will be created. Historical and limited edition materials, particularly the products of cost-shared projects, will be archived.
The library/resource centre is based on needs identified in the Provincial Literacy Resource Centre Study conducted in 1995.
