Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Lifelong Learning Project <br />Program Narrative--page 3 <br /> <br />no matter what type of tutoring program that you are involved in, <br />training is the most important aspect of making it effective <br />and efficient. <br /> <br />In the past, the tutoring program has proven to be an effective wctf to attrð:t adults with <br />less than a twelfth grade eduction to the library. Adult education tutoring using trained <br />volunteer tutors wi11 be an important component of the proposed Lifelong Learning Project. <br />Yet, there is presently no program to train tutors in San Marcos. It is apparent that if the <br />Lifelong Learning Project is to succeed, it must provide tutor training and tutor training <br />materials. <br /> <br />In planning the Lifelong Learning Project, library staff members met with Mr. Fred <br />Guerra, Director of the Southwest Texas State University Educatlonal Opportunity Center, a <br />division of the Office of Minority Student Affairs. The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) <br />provides low- income persons with tutoring and counseling in order that they may <br />eventually become enrol1ed in vocational schools or other programs of higher education. <br /> <br />In OOdition to directing the EOC, Mr. Guerra is a community leader. He serves on the san <br />Marcos City Council and is a member of several business and Hispanic organizations. As <br />such, he is uniquely qua1ified to comment on the need for services to our target population. <br />Mr. Guerra feels that the proposed project wi1l fi11 a great need in our community. He has, <br />therefore, pledged the support of the EOC in cooperating with the project, planning project <br />activíties and in providing financial support in the form of paid tutors. An ~reement of <br />cooperation signed by representatives of both the library and the EOC mCtf be found in <br />Appendix A. <br /> <br />The Hays County Adult Probation Department, located in San Marcos, works with many <br />adults with less than a twelfth grade education. The Probation Department is committed to <br />improving the lives of their cHents, in part through education. They have expressed the <br />hope that through the Lifelong Learning Project, their clients will gain confidence to deal <br />with the everyday problems of adult life and that many will earn their GED. The Probation <br />Department is an important source of support for the project, not only because they are in <br />direct contact with the needs of many people in the target group, but also because they will <br />serve as an important source of referrals. <br /> <br />Members of the Friends of the San Marcos Public Library also met with the library staff to <br />discuss the Lifelong Learning Project. The Friends have recognized this worthwhiJe <br />community project by pledging $600 for its support. This pledge of support may be found <br />in Appendix B. Other groups contacted by the library staff were equal1y supportive of our <br />efforts. These groups included the Community Action ~nr:y, the GED testing program at <br />the San Marcos High School, and the San Marcos Women's Commission. Documentation of <br />support from 811 the community groups and agencies mentioned may be found in <br />Appendix C. <br /> <br />Local1y, over 46~ of adults over the age of 25 have less than a twelfth grade education. <br />Presently, most of these adults are not library users. With the opportunities that this <br />project wll1 offer to these adults, some wi11 earn their GED certificate, some wi111earn to <br />better cope with the problems of adu1t life, some will get better jobs, and many wi11 become <br />