Here are some comments on the Multicultural Story Time and “Put Your Nose in  Book” literacy campaign.

"Walter and Louise Sommers English Language Tutor Award" recipient

The “Walter and Louise Sommers English Language tutor Award”, was initiated by the Sommers’ children and great-grand children to honor Walter and Louise’s dedication to VCPL’s ESL Program. Pictured (L-R) are Susan Jakaitis, manager of VCPL’s LifeLong Learning Center and Char Minnette, recipient of the 2010 award.

Edward N. Howrd Literacy Award Winners

Partners Advancing Literacy Skills (PALS)was the 2010 recipient of the Edward N. Howard Literacy award for supporting the goals of the WVLC. B.J. Howard presented the award at the “Dessert and a Good Book” event. This annual award was initiated in 1991.

Dessert and a Good Book

Coordinated by Vigo CountyPublic Library’s LifeLong Learning Center, the WVLC’s annual volunteer recognition event, “Dessert and a Good Book” offers a dessert buffet and a free book for all attendees. The 2010 event was hosted by WVLC, the VCPL, and Altrusa International of Terre Haute.

"More: Health Literacy Matters"

The March 31, 2010 Literacy Networking Breakfast “More Health Literacy Matters” included panelists (L to R) Dr. Sue Gossee, Dr. Kathleen Stienstra, Dr. Rao Ivaturi, and Rayetta Minton who are experts in the fields of health, nutrition, fitness, and wellness.

ISU Nursing students attend Literacy Networking Breakfast

 Dr. Sue Gossee’s nursing students from ISU learned about health literacy issues at the Coalition’s timely event which addressed literacy’s role in wellness.

Healthy Breakfast Buffet

A light and healthy continental breakfast was served.

ISU Sycamore Reader coaches Kendall and Khrista are the readers for Multicultural Storytime

Kendall and Khrista don noses before reading to children at the  Multicultural Storytime during Family Learning Day Downtown.

Grandma and granddaughter enjoy reading together in LLC and receive a sponge nose.

Families enjoyed the “Put Your Nose is a Book ” event by reading together and receiving free sponge noses.

Young girl is excited about hearing the story about "Mama Cat"

Another family  smiles at the dramatic reading of the story about Mama Cat  in LLC during the “Put your Nose in a Book” event.

Here are some photos of the “Health Literacy Matters” event:

Registration is required by the October 23rd deadline. Call (812) 232-1113, ext. 284
or email sjakaitis@vigo.lib.in.us.

9:00 – 9:45 AM, Multicultural story time with guest readers Kendall Rhodes and Khrista Beliles and 35 free books, courtesy of Altrusa International of Terre Haute.

10:30 – 11:30 AM, the annual “Put Your Nose in a Book” literacy awareness campaign, rewarding all those who stop to read as a family activity with a free red sponge nose.

Participants will comment on WVLC’s blog during this event. Come back to read what they said!

We’re looking forward to another wonderful day, which will include fun booths, activities and free books at the Vigo County Public Library!

LeRaye Cameron

LifeLong Learning Center Staff

The following is written by an ESL tutor in the Vigo County Public Library’s English as a Second Language Program,   who has contributed her time and expertise to tutoring three adult students.  She is a multidimensional person and has an additional volunteer interest that is leading her toward a job that she loves.

I have been taking classes at Indiana State University forever, seems like it anyway.  Because I work there, it has been easy for me to take one class a semester while I am working full time.  It took me about 10 years to finish my associate’s degree in Office Support and Technology which helped me get a promotion and a nice raise in the Purchasing Department.  I love my job, but I kept thinking that I would like to do something different when I retire from the University. 

When I was taking a psychology class, I decided to take one of those tests that determine what work you would be best suited for.  It indicated that I would be a good teacher or interpreter.  When I thought of interpreter, I thought of interpreting a language, but that’s not what it was talking about.  An interpreter can be a person at a state park or national park who shows visitors the flora, fauna, and features of the park.  That is when I decided that’s what I want to do when I retire.  I changed my major to Anthropology and started working earnestly on my bachelor’s degree.  I am trying to take at least 2 classes a semester, so I can get done more quickly than I did my associates. 

I have heard from my advisors and professors that I needed to get some experience to get “my foot in the door” at a National Park.  I found out from talking to park rangers at a recent visit to Yellow Stone National Park, the best way to do that is to volunteer at one of the parks.  My husband is volunteering at the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park in Vincennes and he really likes it, but I wanted to take visitors out on hikes in the woods to show them the flowers, plants, trees, and critters, so I decided to try to get into Shakamak State Park.  It is close to home for me and offers a variety of things to do for campers and visitors.

It took me quite a while to get a volunteer job at the park, but I finally did it.  The beauty of being a volunteer is you can work when you want to and the supervisor of the park volunteers has allowed me to design the programs  for my hikes.  I have been doing a fitness hike and a tree identification hike almost every Friday or Saturday in July and August.  It has been fun to work with the naturalist at the park, who has given me tips and pointers about being an interpreter.  Another volunteer at the park is a teacher during the school year and volunteers at Shakamak and Pokagon State Parks in the summer.  She has also given me some great information and has shown me what fun it can be to teach people about our local state park.  She told me to “do what you love” and that’s exactly what I am doing. 

Even though Shakamak’s nature center is only open in the summer, I hope to continue leading hikes through the year, if they will let me.   If you would like to join me, or want to explore the park on your own, check out the web site http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/3288.htm for a schedule of events.  I also continue to volunteer at the library in the English as a Second Language Program where I am interpreting language, while at Shakamak State Park I am interpreting nature! 

Sherri Ramseyer

One student was very happy that I explained the mystery of the word “was.”  He has lived in the USA for 10 years and has a limited vocabulary but never had had the simple tenses explained to him.  When I explained “was” to him his smile went from ear to ear and he declared to me “You are very good teacher, very good man.”  So you can see we have a lot of work to do but you can also see that what LLC is accomplishing is appreciated.  Another student is very interested in learning about cultural differences. So we have been going over things like, looking people in the eye when you are speaking to them being an expected gesture in American culture and how firm a handshake should they use. 

The AARP program only allows me to work for 18 hours a week and it is understood that I will be actively searching for full-time employment.  So I have resumes spread out from Missouri to Virginia trying to find a job that meet the needs of my family.  Until that job is located though I am enjoying my time in LLC and feeling that I am accomplishing something worthwhile in someone else’s life.

Louise Anderson (at top) talks with students at DeVaney Elementary about the book “My Hero, My Dad the Nurse.”

The West Central Indiana Area Health Education Center is donating the book “My Hero, My Dad the Nurse” to school libraries in its 11 county area. Written by Dr. Maggie Thurmond Dorsey, RN, the colorful children’s book tells the story of a young boy who considers a variety of career options before deciding to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a nurse.

The book addresses the need for male nurses in an industry that has historically been predominately female. Louise Anderson, interim director of the West Central Indiana AHEC, recently talked with students at DeVaney Elementary about the possibilities of a career in health care before presenting the book to the library.

“This is really important to us because we need a lot more men in the nursing field,” Anderson told the students. “We’re presenting this book today because we’re interested in the careers you’ll be choosing.”

The mission of the Indiana AHEC program is to enhance access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventive care for medically underserved populations, by improving the distribution and diversity of health care professionals and improving health care quality through community/academic educational partnerships. West Central Indiana AHEC’s mission is to promote this mission in Clay, Fountain, Greene, Montgomery, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo and Warren counties.

(excerpts and photo

from the Tribune Star newspaper, March 19, 2009)