Yolo County Literacy eNewsletter Winter 2024

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Library Literacy Services

Coordinator's Corner

Happy New Year!

As we look back on 2023 and get excited for 2024, we are very thankful for the perseverance and dedication Yolo Reads volunteers have shown their adult learners. We want to express our gratitude for the incredibly important volunteer services you are providing. Our program aspiration is to ensure that adult learners feel supported and challenged. Yolo Reads volunteer tutors (that’s you!) do this, in part, by creating a learning environment— where learners share their goals, expand their knowledge base, and where their learning is top priority. These shared experiences and relationships nourish growth and result in increased confidence and positive outcomes for Yolo Reads adult learners.

We understand these shared experiences and interactions aren’t guaranteed for everyone outside our Yolo Reads community. We know that many more people could benefit. Currently, 1 in 6 people in our county cannot read and write effectively to perform everyday activities. That is why, to build a larger tutor and learner pool within Yolo County, we must share our Yolo Reads tutor and learner experiences with our friends, family, co-workers, and new acquaintances. These lived experiences are worth sharing and will illuminate the very real need in our county for literacy services.

Contact Yolo Reads to Volunteer

Yolo Reads Learner Interview with CBS Chanel 13 News

CBS News visited the Mary L. Stephens Davis Library to interview Yolo Reads Learner Ismail Seker and Nancy Pacheco, Yolo Reads Coordinator and Outreach Specialist.

"My adventure started with this program," said Seker. "I moved to Davis from Turkey five years ago. I had to improve my English to communicate with the people around me."

That's when he found the Yolo Reads Adult Family Literacy Program.

Pacheco said students are paired with volunteer tutors for study sessions two hours per week for a minimum of six months. They work on reading, writing, spelling, and grammar. Yolo Reads started in 2008 and over the years has helped over 600 people.

"You have to really self-identify and know these are skills that are vital towards your ultimate success in life, and your children's success, and your grandchildren's success," Pacheco said.

Watch the CBS 13 News Learner Interview

Yolo Reads California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) Final Report

The California State Library’s annual 2022-23 report to the California State Legislature compiles information from all the California Public Library Literacy Services' accomplishments and based on that data, provides policy considerations for the future. Yolo County Library's Literacy Services, Yolo Reads Adult & Family Literacy and ESL, are included in this annual report. If you'd like to learn more about public library literacy services, consider joining Yolo Reads as a volunteer. It is a great way to make a difference!

Download the California Library Literacy Report to Legislature [pdf]

ESL Corner

Please help us welcome our new ESL Coordinators:
Abigail Mendez and Ricardo Camargo

Abigail Mendez is a Woodland Community College student and serves as an AmeriCorps Service Member for the low-income housing non-profit organization CHOC. Abigail brings to Library Literacy Services her valuable experience serving Yolo County’s Spanish-speaking community. She assists with and coordinates ESL classes and graduation festivities. Abigail meets with ESL students one-on-one to identify their learning goals and to listen to their experiences. Her work will help us to continue to improve ESL services.

Abigail Mendez, ESL Coordinator

Ricardo Camargo, a UC Davis researcher, is a first-generation student who migrated at age 16 from Guerrero, Mexico. He comes from an underserved background and a low-income family. As an ESL student who broke many barriers to obtaining an academic degree, he brings invaluable experience and insight to the Yolo County Library Literacy Services ESL program. Ricardo will be coordinating ESL learning activities and collecting program data. His experience at UC Davis will help bring ESL to new and returning students.

Ricardo Camargo, ESL Coordinator

English as a Second Language - Classes Starting!

Beginning ESL Classes offered at the Knights Landing Library

42351 Third Street, Knights Landing, CA 95645

Classes for adults who do not speak English as their first language

Registration: Wednesday, January 24th

Free books and tutor provided
No personal documentation needed
Free activities for children

For more information contact:

Ricardo Camargo: (530) 574-8258 or Ricardo.Camargo@yolocounty.org

Abigail Méndez: (530) 666-8079 or Abigail.Mendez@yolocounty.org

Nancy Pacheco: (530) 666-8019 or Nancy.Pacheco@yolocounty.org

Download the ESL Knights Landing Flyer [pdf]

Classes and Conversation Groups

Conversation Groups at the Davis Branch Library

Tuesdays, 5:30 - 7:00 pm Starting 2/20

Wednesdays, 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Starting 1/24

Thursdays, 1:30 - 3:00 pm

Davis Branch Library - 315 E. 14th Street, Davis, CA 95616

Our English and Spanish conversation groups are happening now. Whether you'd like to drop in and practice English in a fun and relaxed way or brush up on your Spanish, we're here to help you meet your goals! For adults.

Download the English Conversation Flyer [pdf]

Virtual English Conversation Classes

Yolo Reads weekly English Conversation Classes are for learners who are waiting to be matched with a tutor. Led by Becky McMannis, these classes use a variety of discussion styles to help each learner progress toward their goals.

For more information or to register, contact Nancy Pacheco: 530-666-8019
nancy.pacheco@yolocounty.org

Featured Learning Resources

Tumblebook Library

Launchpad Reading Tablets

Mango Languages

Coursera

Learning Express Library

Northstar Digital Literacy

The library's online learning resources are always available and easily accessible through the YCL website. These are just a few of the resources we've found most helpful to our tutors and learners.

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Yolo County Library
Administrative Center 226 Buckeye St. Woodland, California, 95695
Phone: (530) 666-8005