TEACHING RESOURCE

Literacy Information and Resources, Literacy for Independent Living
Literacy for Independent Living (LIL) is an online project of the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (CAILC). CAILC developed LIL in partnership with the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD). The Literacy Information and Resources section of LIL invites you to explore various online resources that are useful for literacy practitioners, for facilitators at disability and community organizations, for adult learners with disabilities and for their community-at-large. Information and resources are given for disabilities in general and for specific types of disabilities. http://www.nald.ca/lil/english/litinfo.htm

THE WORLD OF READING AND LIBRARIES

“To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list.”—John Aikin (1747-1822, English doctor and writer)

• February 20th to 26th marks Freedom to Read Week! This annual event led by the Book and Periodical Council encourages Canadians to think about intellectual freedom, censorship, and the value of the right to read. For more information, ideas for activities, posters, visit http://www.freedomtoread.ca/. Helping to spread the word this year is Bookcrossing.com, which is encouraging Canadians to release challenged books into their community (http://www.freedomtoread.ca/freedom_to_read_week/bookcrossing.asp)

• Looking for a good book to read?? Canada Reads (http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/) is on again! Starting February 21st, five panelists will face off on the CBC for this year’s battle of the books. Five books will be defended, but only one will be crowned champ… And, all of the publishers have agreed to donate a portion of sales proceeds to the Movement for Canadian Literacy. The elaborate website for Canada Reads not only describes the books and their defenders, but also provides their additional reading lists and teachers’ guides

• How has a public library made a difference in your life? Want to write about it? If so, Beyond Words may be the competition for you. Partly sponsored by the British Columbia Library Association, the contest is awarding $500 for the highest scoring personal essay about your experience with a public library in BC. Entrants must be 19 years or older. Hurry! The deadline is midnight, February 28th, 2005. More information is available at http://www.beyondwords.ca/default.aspx or inquire - where else?- at your public library!