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Public Library

READ/San Diego - Adult and Family Literacy Services

Located on the Eighth Floor of Central Library

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

Regular Hours
Monday 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday 11:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 6 p.m
Friday 11:00 a.m. - 6 p.m
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
 

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 people's lives by empowering them to read. Our professional staff of literacy experts coordinates the efforts of volunteer reading tutors. They also cooperate with local adult schools, community colleges and other literacy education providers in making and receiving student referrals.

PDF icon READ/San Diego Fact Sheet

Families for Literacy Program

Mariana Gomez with her sons, Felipe and German at City Heights Families for Literacy Program.In addition to providing individual one-on-one tutoring for adults, READ also conducts Families for Literacy. This program is designed to break the cycle of intergenerational low-literacy. They do this by teaching low-literate parents and caregivers with preschool children the skills they need to be their children's first and most important teacher. Families for Literacy also provides age-appropriate books to help families build home libraries - a critical component for improving literacy for the whole family.
 
PDF icon Families for Literacy Frequently Asked Questions
 

Israel Sr & Israel Jr & Janet reading Jump into January.See real life stories about how families' lives have been changed:

  • Maria Federico
    Maria Federico brings her youngest children to the library twice a month to attend the Families for Literacy programs - an activity that is making a big difference for her son, Oscar Acevedo. Read more about Maria's story (PDF).
  • Erika Sayas
    "Thanks to this wonderful program, my kids have become early readers, all of them!" Read more about Erika's story (PDF).

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.
 
2019 Conference
2018 Conference
2017 Conference

2016 Conference

2015 Conference

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/San Diego's Families for Literacy Program PDF icon won a $10,000 award 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. PDF icon Read the full Advancement of Literacy Award press release.
  • 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. PDF icon Read the full Top Community Partnerships press release.

Volunteer Literacy Tutors Needed Now!

At any given time, there are up to 150 people on a waiting list to take advantage of this free literacy program. Helping someone learn to read is giving them the gift of knowledge with the power to change their entire world! Your volunteerism can help change lives! See real life stories:

Become a Volunteer!

If you want to make a difference, please take a look at our Volunteer Opportunities and contact READ/San Diego at readstaff@sandiego.gov today!

Volunteer Requirements
  • must be at least 18 years of age;
  • 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); and
  • must make a minimum six month commitment to your assigned adult learner.
  • be provided 15 hours of 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; and
  • have on-going support from the literacy professionals on staff at READ/San Diego.

Watch short video interviews of real adult learners at: www.libraryliteracy.org.

Tutor Training Schedule

PDF icon 2022 Tutor Training Schedule

To register for training or more information, call 619-238-6603 or email readstaff@sandiego.gov