Arts & Culture

International Literacy Day is almost here! This worldwide celebration and recognition of literacy is coming up on Wednesday September 8, 2021. We thought, being a library, this was the perfect time to think about what literacy means. And to share some ideas on how to celebrate the importance of literacy in your life!

UNESCO has celebrated International Literacy Day since 1967 and this year’s theme is “Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”. As we have seen within our own country, COVID-19 disrupted the learning not only of children and youth, but also adult literacy learners.

TPL’s Adult Literacy Program offered remote learning through most of the pandemic. This was a challenging time for our staff, volunteers and learners. All of them showed resilience in learning new technologies and ways to connect remotely. TPL’s Adult Literacy Program supports adult learners in basic reading, writing and math and helps them reach their literacy goals; whether for the workplace, education or independence. We couldn’t be prouder of how our learners adapted throughout this challenging time!

International Literacy Day is also an opportunity to recognize literacy in your life. Here are three ways that TPL can help you to celebrate!

1. Join us for an online program!

Our Online Programs are completely free and do not require a library card. There is something for everyone! We are hosting online book clubs and author visits. There are a lot of opportunities to learn new tech skills or to explore current issues. If you haven’t attended one of our online programs yet, this is a great opportunity to connect virtually and explore an interest. All of our upcoming program offerings can be found on our website with instructions on how to join.

2. Explore literacy for all ages!

Literacy is important whether you are 2 or 102. Our Ready for Reading website is full of supports for parents of young children to make sure they are ready for a successful start to school. TPL Kids and Teens websites provide book recommendations and online programs to check out. 

3. Read something new!

You may be an avid reader or may not have picked up a book in a while. Either way, why not think about reading something new? Try a new format like an ebook, or a newspaper from another country. Not only do we have branches full of things to borrow from books to magazines but we also have a collection of digital resources to explore. In 2020, we set a new world record of 8 million ebook downloads! If you are looking for a challenge that encourages you to read something new, our TPL Reading Challenge 2021 is a great place to start. To participate in the Challenge, "read or listen to 12 books in 12 categories from January to December to complete the 2021 Reading Challenge." You can find out more on the TPL Reading Challenge webpage.

Happy reading!