AIR DATE SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
Title: National Literacy Month and Library Card Sign Up Month
In this episode of Emily Tells All, during National Literacy and Library Card Sign-Up Month, we take an adventure to the Orange County Library. Emily celebrates literacy programs and the work done to empower communities and lives.
Guests and Locations
Adult Literacy League, Community Engagement Specialist – Peyton Whittington
Orange County Library System, Director – Mary Anne Hodel
Exploring Adult Literacy and the Orange County Library
As of 2017, about 19% of American adults were performing at the lowest levels in literacy. Literacy is an underrated skill that has a massive impact on one’s wellbeing, economic opportunities, and educational success. And what better place to enhance one’s literacy than at the library?
We’ll take a walk through the Orange County Library with Mary Anne Hodel (Director). But first we chat with Peyton Whittington who is the Community Engagement Specialist with the Adult Literacy League.
Empowering Through Literacy and Education
In Central Florida, about 80% of the students at the Adult Literacy Week are ESL (English as a second language) speakers. This is naturally due to the large immigrant and refugee population in the area.
However, the other 20% who attend the program are ABE (adult basic education) students. These individuals are US natives who never learned to read or write for whatever reason.
Reading doesn’t come naturally to everyone. “And sometimes the group, classroom learning environment in most public schools just isn’t conducive to everybody’s learning style. That’s why I love our primary service, which is our one-to-one tutoring service,” explains Peyton.
The Adult Literacy program also holds online classes and in-person classes along with their 1:1 tutoring.
Whether you just need to practice your English conversation skills or start learning reading from scratch, the Adult Literacy League will help you reach your goals. You can also get involved as a volunteer by going to their website and signing up.
Touring the Downtown Orange County Library
A public library is a necessity to any community. The Orange County library offers various literacy programs and free resources that truly empower others.
“This building is an addition to the 1966 building, and this building now takes up an entire city block. It’s chock-full of all kinds of great things that our citizens and residents can use. There is no fee for the library. It is all free provided you live in our taxing district, which encompasses Orange County, with the exception of Maitland and Winter Park. They have their own systems. So, we cover all the rest of Orange County,” Mary Anne proudly explains.
The 1st floor of the Orange County library encompasses a children’s library, including child-safe computers, books, DVDs, and videos. In “library central,” you’ll see more DVDs and their entire fiction collection. There is also a teen-only area with lounge chairs and café booths.
Moving on to the 2nd floor, visitors can enjoy the Melrose center for innovation technology and creativity. There is all sorts of wonderful equipment and software for all types of digital creativity. Enjoy a simulation room, audio recording and mixing room, video lab, photo lab, 3D printer, and high-end workstations that all have the Adobe Pro Creative Suite.
The 3rd floor is dedication to the friends of the library bookshop, where donations can be sold to the library. “We also have a number of meeting rooms, which local groups are invited to hold their meetings in for a very nominal charge,” Mary Anne says.
The 4th floor is dedicated to a collection of PCs for anyone to use with a library card. These are all connected to the internet. Library cardholders can also make use of linda.com, which offers career skills classes.
Throughout the library, you can find smiling faces from librarians and staff eager to answer all your questions and guide you in the right direction. So, take advantage of all these free resources if you live in Orange County. Sign up for a library card at the downtown location or online.
