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<br /> SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY <br /> LIFELONG LEARNING PROJECT <br /> PROGRAM NARRATIVE <br /> r. INTRODUCTION <br /> In September 1987 the San Marcos Public Library received an <br /> LSCA Title I grant to develop a Lifelong Learning Project, <br /> Our target audience for this project was the adult population <br /> with less than a twelfth grade education, The grant allowed <br /> us to develop a Lifelong Learning Collection which included <br /> GED study guides, literacy workbooks and life skills <br /> materials, It also enabled us to establish an adult literacy <br /> and GED tutoring program and to offer a series of lifeskills <br /> workshops. <br /> In the initial phases of the Lifelong Learning Project, it <br /> came to our attention that the majority of our clients were <br /> Hispanics for whom English was a second language (ESL), This <br /> prompted a focus on services for ESL clients, In response to <br /> these needs we sought and received a second LSCA Title I <br /> grant in September 1988. Goals for the new grant included <br /> training volunteers to tutor ESL adults, establishing a <br /> center within the library which would provide information <br /> about social services available to the ESL community, and <br /> developing a special bilingual story time program to be <br /> presented to the Hispanic community, <br /> Community response to the Lifelong Learning Project has been <br /> enthusiastic and has resulted in a 38% increase in Hispanic <br /> library card holders during the last year. But, clearly, the <br /> most successful component of all our activities has been the <br /> adult tutoring program. In the first five months of the <br /> project year for the Title I grant, we have already surpassed <br /> our primary goal of providing 1300 hours of ESL and related <br /> adult education by 58% for a total of 2050 hours, This <br /> figure represents nearly a three-fold increase over hours of <br /> instruction provided for the equivalent period in 1987, <br /> Given the success of these grants in addressing essential, <br /> previously neglected, needs of the Hispanic community, we are <br /> now eager to extend and expand the Lifelong Learning Project, <br /> Goals for the new grant will be concerned with <br /> transitions facing ESL patrons: English adequacy, GED <br /> certification, and job search skills. Specifically, we <br /> intend to: <br /> 1) Assist persons for whom English is a second <br /> language in mastering educational requirements for <br /> successful performance in the workplace through <br /> continued provision of a literacy, GED and ESL <br /> tutoring program, <br />