ALTUS - The Great Plains Literacy Council through the Southern Prairie Library System was recently chosen to receive a literacy technology enhancement grant from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. This grant was made possible thanks to state appropriations from the state legislators to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

“The grant was used to buy a new computer and instructional software to enhance basic literacy services to functionally illiterate adults in the area,” said Susan McVey, director of Oklahoma Department of Libraries. “The ESL outreach facilitator was using an outdated computer that had been donated by an individual to the literacy council many years ago, but the old computer was having problems. Since that computer was needed daily, the new computer will now be reliable and dependable.”

The replacement computer will enhance the Great Plains Literacy Council in promotion, recruitment, and trainings in their outreach efforts. A DVD computer usage curriculum will also be utilized with the new and the old computer in the literacy classroom. The Southern Prairie Library System has provided internet access to this computer.

According to The 2003 State Assessment of Adult Literacy, 12 % of adults in Oklahoma are functioning at the below basic level having no more than the simplest and most concrete literacy skills. Another 31% who perform at the basic level have only the skills necessary to perform simple everyday literacy activities. These statistics are reasons why the Great Plains Literacy Council is in need of volunteer tutors in helping others learn to read, write, or speak English.

The Department of Libraries is committed to providing resources and assistance to volunteer, community based literacy programs that address these needs. Feel free to contact the Literacy Resource Office at 405-522-3187 or the Great Plains Literacy Council at 580-477-2890 for additional information.