At a glance 

The Lethbridge Public Library in Lethbridge, Alberta, has over 100 employees across two branches and a bookmobile, but the Read On team, which manages the library’s adult literacy programming, is much smaller. Lil Radley and Beth Entz are a team of two, and they serve over 350 learners annually thanks in part to their roster of over 150 engaged volunteers.

While Read On has long served Lethbridge’s adult learners, the strongest community need right now is English as a Second Language (ESL) programming. After decades of no significant immigration, Lethbridge has become a destination for refugees, temporary foreign workers, and immigrants from countries as widespread as Sudan, the Phillipines, and Bhutan. Read On serves them as well as long-time residents by offering adult literacy and ESL programming in one-on-one and classroom settings.

Programs of note 

Read On has been running ABC Life Literacy Canada’s Money Matters program every year since the program launched.  They work with TD volunteers to help deliver the program, and word about the program has spread throughout the banking community. “We’ve had volunteers from almost every bank and credit union in Lethbridge,” says Beth. “It’s huge because the bank volunteers can answer questions we can’t. Our learners come in scared, overwhelmed, unsure and uncomfortable. But the volunteers get them comfortable with the jargon. When they go into a bank, now they know what to ask about.”

Not many places offer financial literacy programming in Lethbridge right now, but the demand for this type of education is high. The library is currently collaborating with the City of Lethbridge to create a financial literacy task force, so educational programs like Money Matters can reach every interested resident.

Current focus 

Read On has two new programs rolling out right now that support families learning together.

The Supporting Success program is a partnership between the library, the school district and the University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Education. Families learn songs and rhymes to sing together, and then the children are tutored by university students while the parents have a conversational class or one-on-one tutoring.  “The whole community comes together to support this program,” Beth explains. “The school district refers parents who would benefit from additional English skills, and employers let them off work early so they can attend with their kids.”

The Time for Rhymes ESL program is aimed at isolated families of young children. It brings parents, grandparents and relatives together with their children under 5 to strengthen their English skills through stories, songs, and play. There are toys for the kids, and English lessons for the parents. The program builds language skills, but most importantly, a sense of community. “For these families, coming to this program might be the only time they leave the house and use their English skills,” says Beth. “It builds the confidence they need to succeed.”

Coming up next 

The Read On program has even more change in the horizon – Lethbridge is a new destination of choice for newcomers to Canada, so it expects even more newcomers to join the city next year. This has Lil and Beth looking forward to meeting the needs of those newcomers, while also learning from them. “They give so much to our community,” says Beth. “We can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Want to learn more? Check out their website, Twitter or Facebook or Pinterest page.