Private Organizations That Deal with Literacy and Reading

For information about adult and family literacy programs in your community, be sure to check at your local library. Other resources on literacy and reading include:

American Library Association (ALA)

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

50 East Huron Street

Chicago, IL 60611

Toll Free: 1-800-545-2433, ext. 2163

http://www.ala.org/alsc/

ALA/ALSC sponsors “Born To Read,” a program that builds partnerships between librarians and health care professionals to reach out to new and expectant “at-risk” parents to help them raise children who are “born to read.” Publications and online resources include materials for parents, caregivers, and children.

International Reading Association (IRA)

800 Barksdale Road

P.O. Box 8139

Newark, DE 19714-8139

Phone: 302-731-1600

http://www.reading.org/

IRA is an organization of teachers, librarians, researchers, parents, and others dedicated to promoting high levels of literacy for all. Its Online Bookstore offers books, videos, and software for parents and caregivers.

Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA)

635 James Street

Syracuse, NY 13202-2214

Phone: 315-472-0001

http://www.reading.org/

LVA sponsors more than 350 community programs nationwide that offer free literacy help to adults and their families.

National Center for Family Literacy

Waterfront Plaza, Suite 200

325 West Main Street

Louisville, KY 40202-4251

Toll Free (Parade Family Literacy InfoLine): 1-877-326-5481

http://www.famlit.org

Parade Family Literacy InfoLine provides referrals for family literacy programs at the local level. Accessible 24 hours a day; operators are available 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday.

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF)

P.O. Box 23444

Washington, DC 20026

Toll Free: 1-877-RIF-READ

http://www.rif.org/

Develops and delivers children and family literacy programs that help prepare young children for reading and motivate school-age children to read. Trains literacy providers, parents, and others to prepare all children to become lifelong readers.

By Barbara J. Feldman

Barbara J. Feldman is a syndicated columnist and the publisher of Surf Net Parents, Surfnetkids.com and 51+ other family-friendly sites. She has been creating websites since 1996, and loves teaching others how to solve WordPress problems.