Community Libraries
"Education is a fundamental human right. Literacy is the key to a lifetime of learning, building beautiful community relationships, and transforming realities. Literacy is crucial in the fight to reduce infant mortality rates, achieve gender equality, ensure sustainable community economies, peace, and social justice. Literacy enables families to overcome poverty,
gain health care access, accomplish goals, and build bolder dreams."
~Georgina Cecilia Pérez
Decades of Community Libraries
Local, National, & Global Data
Benefits of Literacy & Effects of Illiteracy
EL PASO - County Residents to pay for library cards
“We have some of the highest illiteracy rates in the country, something that has persistently plagued our community for decades,” he said. He added that as public servants, he and city representatives must address large-scale problems,
such as illiteracy and joblessness.
http://newspapertree.com/articles/2013/08/08/county-residents-to-pay-for-library-cards
NATIONAL - The 5 Least Literate Cities in America
Each year, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) examines how well Americans use their literacy skills. The cities are ranked based on six categories: bookstores, residents’ educational attainment, newspaper circulation, use of online resources, the library system, and periodical publishing resources. El Paso is ranked 4th least literate, 2014; 3rd least literate, 2013.
http://time.com/9549/the-5-least-literate-cities-in-america/
GLOBAL - Human Benefits
“The human benefits from literature are related to factors such as the improved self-esteem, empowerment, creativity and critical reflection that participation in adult literacy programmes and the practice of literacy may produce. Human benefits are intrinsically valuable and may also be instrumental in realizing other benefits of literacy: improved health, increased political participation and so on.” http://www.unesco.org/education/GMR2006/full/chapt5_eng.pdf
GLOBAL - World Economic Forum on the Global Gender Gap Report, 2015
Nations with the least inequality also have the highest literacy levels, wage equality, more women in elected office, longer life expectancy, and higher GDP. The United States ranks #28 on the GGGR 2015.
https://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2015/
“We have some of the highest illiteracy rates in the country, something that has persistently plagued our community for decades,” he said. He added that as public servants, he and city representatives must address large-scale problems,
such as illiteracy and joblessness.
http://newspapertree.com/articles/2013/08/08/county-residents-to-pay-for-library-cards
NATIONAL - The 5 Least Literate Cities in America
Each year, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) examines how well Americans use their literacy skills. The cities are ranked based on six categories: bookstores, residents’ educational attainment, newspaper circulation, use of online resources, the library system, and periodical publishing resources. El Paso is ranked 4th least literate, 2014; 3rd least literate, 2013.
http://time.com/9549/the-5-least-literate-cities-in-america/
GLOBAL - Human Benefits
“The human benefits from literature are related to factors such as the improved self-esteem, empowerment, creativity and critical reflection that participation in adult literacy programmes and the practice of literacy may produce. Human benefits are intrinsically valuable and may also be instrumental in realizing other benefits of literacy: improved health, increased political participation and so on.” http://www.unesco.org/education/GMR2006/full/chapt5_eng.pdf
GLOBAL - World Economic Forum on the Global Gender Gap Report, 2015
Nations with the least inequality also have the highest literacy levels, wage equality, more women in elected office, longer life expectancy, and higher GDP. The United States ranks #28 on the GGGR 2015.
https://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2015/
