Kristin Pedersen-Carver and Monika Perez reviewing lesson materials.

Literacy AmeriCorps member Helen Warner (standing) and Barbara Rojas (seated left) teaching a basic writing class at READ/San Diego's computer lab.

READ/San Diego is a free literacy instruction service for adults 18 years and older. This award winning program has become a model for the country. It is staffed with literacy professionals, who work with community organizations and coordinate the efforts of volunteer reading tutors to teach adults to read and write, and improve literacy in San Diego.

• Why Literacy Matters
• Fact Sheet
• Neighborhood Partnerships
• Families for Literacy Program
• Tutor Conference
• Awards and News
• Become a Volunteer
• Other Ways You Can Help
• Location and Hours
• Contact Us

Volunteer Literacy Tutors Needed Now!

More than 150 people are on a waiting list for this free literacy program! Become a Volunteer Literacy Tutor. Your volunteerism can help change lives! See real life stories:

• Maria Gonzalez
  Following her participation in the Library's READ/San Diego program, Maria Gonzalez passed her GED, found a job and became active in her children's education. Read more. (PDF)
• Bob Perez
  At eighty-eight-years old, Bob Perez proves you can gain literacy skills at any age. Read more. (PDF)
• 2011 READ/San Diego Honorees
  See how READ's students, with the help of their tutors, are developing the skills they need to attain their goals and reach for their dreams.

Why Literacy Matters

In San Diego County alone, there are over 450,000 adults who cannot read and write well enough to take care of the everyday tasks that we take for granted. That means they can't read medicine labels, recipes, or even the guide on the television. Many cannot read to their small children, which puts the children at a disadvantage when they begin school.

READ/San Diego is working every day to make a difference in those people's lives by empowering them to read. Our professional staff of literacy experts coordinates the efforts of volunteer reading tutors and cooperates with local adult schools, community colleges and other literacy education providers in making and receiving student referrals.

Families for Literacy Program

Tutor Conference

READ/San Diego hosts an annual tutor conference open to all volunteer tutors as well as professional adult teachers at the University of San Diego. This exciting event is full of workshops and lectures given by literacy experts at major leading institutions around the country.

• Saturday, June 9, 2012 - 22nd Annual Tutor Conference
  • Keynote Speaker - Educator Denise Eide will speak about her award-winning book, Uncovering the Logic of English: A Common Sense Solution to America's Literacy Crisis
  • Brochure (PDF)
• Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 21^st Annual Tutor Conference
• Keynote Speaker - Dr. Robert Brooks, a clinical psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, who is an internationally recognized speaker on motivation, resilience, family relationships, and balancing personal and professional lives, spoke on The Power of Mindsets: Strategies for Nurturing Hope and Resilience.
• Brochure (PDF)
• Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 20^th Annual Tutor Conference
• Keynote Speaker - Dr. Maryanne Wolf, internationally known researcher and author of the critically acclaimed book, Proust and the Squid. She spoke on Literacy, Dyslexia and the Reading Brain.
• Brochure (PDF)

Awards and News

READ/San Diego has been recognized as a model literacy program and has been repeatedly recognized nationwide for its community service and literacy leadership. Our dedication to providing comprehensive, unique modern programs has resulted in numerous grants and awards.

• 2011 - READ's Families for Literacy Program wins $10,000 award (PDF) from Better Books and the National Center for Literacy.
• 2006 - READ/San Diego was honored with the Advancement of Literacy Award from the American Library Association. The national award honors a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation or similar group that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of adult literacy. Read the full press release. (PDF)
• 2004 - READ/San Diego was named one of the top community partnerships in the nation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education. Read the full press release. (PDF)

Become a Volunteer!

At any given time, there are upwards of 150 people on a waiting list to take advantage of this free literacy program. Helping someone learn to read is giving the gift of knowledge with the power to change their entire world! If you want to make a difference, please take a look at our Volunteer Opportunities today!

To qualify, a volunteer:

• must be 18 years of age or older
• must have good reading and writing skills
• must have three to five hours of time each week to volunteer (includes time for travel, lesson preparation, and tutoring)
• must make a minimum six month commitment to your assigned adult learner

As a volunteer you will:

• be provided a 15 hour training
• be provided tutoring materials and books
• tutor an adult learner twice a week, for an hour and a half each session
• meet at a public library or one of our learning centers
• have on-going support from the literacy professionals on staff at READ/San Diego

Watch short video interviews of real adult learners at: http://www.libraryliteracy.org. Click on the video links at the top right of the web page.

• Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer Application
• Tutor Training Schedule (PDF)
• Learner Training Schedule (PDF)

Other Ways You Can Help

• Like us on Facebook  
• Donate money and other resources
• Introduce us to your civic organization

Location and Hours

READ/San Diego Office
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library
5148 Market St., San Diego, CA 92114-2209
Open Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Map

Contact Us

READ/San Diego
San Diego Public Library
Adult Literacy Program
Phone: 619-527-5475
FAX: 619-527-5485
E-mail: readstaff@sandiego.gov