Literacy Services

Program Sites

Current Services

Literacy Facts

Volunteering

The Literacy Centers of the County of Los Angeles Public Library offer a variety of FREE literacy services for adults and families. VOLUNTEER to help someone improve his/her reading, writing and spelling skills or teach English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.

You don't need a college degree or teaching experience to help someone learn to read. All you need is commitment and time. Tutors must be 18 years or older. Our Literacy Program staff will provide you with the training, materials and other types of support you need.

Volunteer tutors attend two six-hour training workshops prior to being assigned an adult learner. Tutors are required to:

• Commit at least six months to working with an adult learner.
• Meet with learner a minimum of two hours per week.
• Prepare lessons creatively.
• Attend in-service training and tutor support meetings.
• Regularly submit program reports and volunteer hours to literacy staff.
• Communicate successes and concerns to Literacy Center staff.

Tutoring is generally done in the Literacy Center and the hours are arranged for the convenience of both tutor and adult learner.

Literacy students come from all walks of life, from the professional to the homemaker to the 16-year-old dropout. All of these people have the desire to learn to read and the courage to find help.

Thousands of others have acquired the skills they need to get and keep good jobs, support their families and share the joy that reading brings.

What is ESL?

We provide English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction for non-English speaking adults. You don't need to speak someone's language to teach him/her to speak, read or write English. Programs offering ESL instruction also provide training for volunteers in ESL tutoring.

Call the Literacy Services Manager at (562) 940-8511. The Literacy staff will be happy to tell you how you can help!