 Adult Literacy
at The Abington Free Library
215-885-5183, 215-885-5180, ext. 27, ablit1@yahoo.com
Office hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-1 p.m., or by appointment
Student and Tutor Recognition Reception
Thursday, June 7 from 7-8:45 p.m.
Our annual Student and Tutor Recognition Reception is always an event  not to be missed. It's an opportunity for us to come together as a community to recognize all the hard work and accomplishments of the tutors and students.
Please start thinking about your student's attainments over the last year. We will make a form available for you to write down how your student should be recognized.
If you have questions about this, please talk to either Rob or Elizabeth. ablit1@yahoo.com 215-885-5183
Photos of past events.
English as a Second Language Classes
Monday English Conversation Classes
7:15-8:45 p.m.
Tuesday English Conversation Classes
10:30-noon
Idioms and Grammar - Tuesdays
12:30-2 p.m.
EL/Civics Schedule Coming Soon
Contact us with questions:
215-885-5183 or ablit1@yahoo.com
For over 27 years our program has been training volunteer tutors to help both native English-speaking students and foreign-born students improve their English literacy skills. We also have tutors who work with students with math and other subject areas to help them prepare to take the GED or other tests.
For information, please call: 215-885-5183 or email: ablit1@yahoo.com
Donate to the Adult Literacy Program
online through Just  Give
When asked to enter a description of how you would like your donation to be used, please type in Adult Literacy Program.
Thank you!
The Abington Library Adult Literacy Program office
was closed for the
month of August due to state budget cuts.
Adult Literacy Events
Future Dates--Please mark your calendar!
The Adult Literacy Program, a year-round program of volunteer tutoring, helps over 150 students each year to improve their reading, writing, and/or math skills. Some students get help preparing for their high school equivalent diploma or GED, and those whose native language is not English can attend conversation classes, in addition to meeting with a tutor one-on-one.
Training for new tutors is scheduled for March/April, and support meetings for all tutors are offered about once a month.
For additional information, please stop by the Adult Literacy office at Abington Free Library, on the lower level, across from the Children’s Department. You also can call Rob Naborn at 215-885-5183, or email AbLit1@yahoo.com.
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Adult Literacy Mission Statment
The Abington Township Public Library Adult Literacy Program is a full-service program dedicated to providing reading, writing, spelling, mathematics and GED preparation help in general, and an understanding of American culture and language (vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and conversation skills) for English Language Learners in particular.
Adult education is provided through one-on-one tutoring and in small group settings by trained volunteer tutors addressing specific needs. Individualized programs are planned for each student according to their particular goals. Residents of Montgomery County are our primary target, but residents of Philadelphia and Bucks counties are also served with free literacy instruction through the Abington Township Public Library. |
November 11, 2011
Abington Adult Literacy Program Faces Budget Crisis
By Maureen Flanagan, Bonnie Dalzell and Sheila Stieritz
For 27 years, the Adult Literacy Program at the Abington Free Library has successfully helped adults improve their English language skills. During that period, the program served more than 100 students a year at no cost to participants. Volunteer tutors working with the program help both native English-speakers and those who speak English as a second language improve their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.  Tutoring is also available for the GED and test. Unfortunately, this year the Pennsylvania Department of Education eliminated its funding for the program for the next 3 fiscal years. The program was able to secure funding from a Federal grant to continue to teach English literacy and civics education to foreign-born students, but without additional funding, the program cannot continue to serve English-speaking students.
“We’ve received zero funding from the state, and the federal funding we expect to receive is specifically designated for English as a Second Language students.” said Elizabeth Sperling, who has provided administrative support for the program. “That means we’ll have to shift our focus and will no longer be able to help people who want to work on basic literacy or GED tutoring. We also won’t be able to provide services for some of our students learning English as a second language. This is the heart and soul of what we do. Closing our doors would have a negative impact on our community. The worst part is there are no other providers in Eastern Montgomery County where many of these students can go, and we’re getting more calls for GED and basic literacy than ever before.”
 Although the literacy office is tucked away in small corner of the Abington Free Library, the program reaches out to students from all over the world. “They come to us from not only the U.S. but also from Korea, Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica, Guinea, Algeria, Ukraine, and other countries – the world comes through our doors.” says Sperling.
The literacy program was started in 1984, the brainchild of Marlyn Cohen, a reading teacher, and Nancy Posel, then Director of the Abington Free Library. It was at a time when the nation was focused on declining SAT scores and poor literacy rates. After several years the Abington Literacy Program received state funding. Now, the program employs two part-time professionals, Dr. Rob Naborn, a specialist in linguistics, and Sperling, who holds teaching certifications in reading and English as a Second Language.
However, now the program faces an uncertain future, Sperling holds up a long list of prospective students who have called the library to request a tutor. Over the years, the program has helped hundreds of area residents improve their job prospects; as well as their confidence and self-esteem as their literacy skills have improved.
“What can we do now? We have reached out to our state and local officials, initiated new fundraising efforts and are pursuing other possible funding sources. The literacy program is inexpensive, since we utilize volunteer tutors and we have a minimal staff. But, like every other organization, we have expenses that must be covered.” Sperling said.
“It’s inconceivable that the Literacy Program may close when it makes such a positive impact on our community. The individual success stories of participants have been truly inspirational. Many participants have earned a GED or became US Citizens. Others got a job or became comfortable reading to their children with the skills they learned through the Literacy Program,” said Nancy Hammeke Marshall, Executive Director of the Abington Township Public Library.
Students who have been in the program or are currently enrolled tell the story best.
For Diane Johnson, an employee in the Philadelphia School District with an associate degree from the Community College of Philadelphia, the program was life changing. Johnson was deficient in basic literacy skills – a source of shame that caused her to retreat to the ladies room before she was called upon at work to read aloud. After two years in the program, she says she really enjoys reading and now reads to her grandchildren. “My vocabulary has grown immensely. My self-esteem has risen ….the program has helped make me a more productive human being.”
Kareen Foster came to the United States from Jamaica in 1997 without a high school diploma. With the help of two tutors at the literacy program, she is now preparing to take the GED test in early 2012 and then study cosmetology. “My family at the Literacy Program is making it all possible,” Foster said.
Edward Lee, an acupuncturist, and his wife Amy from South Korea joined the Literacy Program’s Conversation Class that meets on both Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings. Not only did the Lees make many good friends through the program, they have been improving their English as they deepen their cultural understanding of people from all over the world.
The program’s tutors, too, have found the work personally fulfilling.
After a career at Rohm and Haas and the EPA, Noah Borenstein established a niche teaching math to students preparing for the GED. In his retirement, he says “it’s gratifying to show a person how much fun math can be.” Borenstein has been highly impressed with how well and efficiently the program is run, citing the commitment and professionalism of Naborn and Sperling.
When asked how he feels about the possibility of the program’s demise, Edward Lee was philosophical. “There is a wisdom in the practice of ancient Asian medicine, and that wisdom says we get pain when our chi is not flowing well. Chi can be applied to ourselves, our families, and our community. It flows when we engage in good communication. This is what the Literacy Program enables us to do.”
Now it is time to get the chi of the Adult Literacy Program at the Abington Free Library flowing again. The Program needs your help!
Donations may be made to the Adult Literacy Program in care of the Friends of the Abington Library. For more information, please call Rob Naborn or Elizabeth Sperling at 215-885-5183, or e-mail them at AbLit1@yahoo.com.
Donate to the Adult Literacy Program
online through Just Give
When asked to enter a description of how you would like your donation to be used, please type in Adult Literacy Program.
Thank you!
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Conversation PLEASE!
An English class for foreign-born adults
Where: Abington Free Library, Lower Level
The daytime class meets Tuesday mornings, 10:30 till noon, under the supervision of volunteer teachers who welcome ESL students and help them feel comfortable while learning the language and culture of America .
On Monday evenings at 7:15, volunteer teachers lead an “English as a Second Language” class for foreign-born students at the library. Many countries are represented, and only English is spoken.
How: Improvement of English through conversation, proper pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary with emphasis on survival skills and understanding of our American culture
Call Abington Free Library Adult Literacy 215-885-5183 or e-mail AbLit1@yahoo.com
for more information and a meeting with the program director, Rob Naborn.
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