End of story for literacy effort?

Del Norte Reads program imperiled by budget woes

The future of Del Norte Reads is in jeopardy.

Funding for the literacy program housed at the Del Norte County Library has been cut in the governor’s latest budget proposal.

The Del Norte County Library District Board was scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the program’s future without sustainable funding and the possible elimination of its manager, Kelley Nolan.

A portion of Del Norte Reads’ budget (which is separate from the library’s budget) comes from the California Library Literacy Services under the California State Library, Nolan said.

Last year, that funding amounted to $32,000, and it has been steadily decreasing over the years, she said. The program also received a Community Development Block Grant of $80,000 and some private donations.

The program has about $42,000 left, and most of those funds will be expended in the next few months, Nolan said. Her salary and benefits as the literacy manager are the program’s largest expense, she said. Nolan oversees the volunteer tutors and the “learners,” as they are called, enrolled in the program, while also being second-in-command to the library manager.

“I love what I get to do,” Nolan said, adding she doesn’t want the program to go away and would rather volunteer her services.

Del Norte Reads has classes for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners, GED preparation, computer skills and literacy at all skill levels.

“This is the only literacy program, period, in the county,” Nolan said.

At the end of December, 25 people exited the program and currently, 70 are still in it. The program has 32 volunteer tutors.

Learners themselves identify what their goals are, be it to get a GED, go to college, or learn how to speak and read English, Nolan said. Once they accomplish their goals, they leave the program, she said.

Without Del Norte Reads, there’s nothing to help people with literacy issues who are trying to advance their lives, Nolan

When she started as literacy manager in 2005, there was a handful of people in the program. Since then, hundreds have received help to become U.S. citizens, get their GED, get a job or go to college, she said.

Back then, there was a “wave” of people trying to gain citizenship, but “now it’s all about the GED,” Nolan said.

“They can’t get a job,” she said. “Everybody needs a GED or a high school diploma — that’s a tough one when you’re an adult.”

“We have a lot of people in our community who didn’t complete school,” Nolan said. “We have to honor the fact they want to finish it now and they’re trying.”

Funding for literacy programs is mandated under the California Library Services Act. The literacy program has existed in Del Norte since the 1980s at the library and at Rural Human Services, Nolan said, and the funding could come back eventually.

In the meantime, she is looking into applying for more CDBG funding.

Reach Kelley Atherton at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it