American Dream Starts @ Your Library

PRESS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Maria Palacio, Outreach Services

FOR IMM= EDIATE RELEASE

Lee Cou= nty Library System selected as an American Dream Starts @ Your Library® gra= nt recipient

Fort Myers, Fla, June 9, 2010– The Lee County Library System is one of seventy public librari= es in 21 states selected by the American Library Association (ALA) to receive $5= 000 as part of the “American Dreams Starts @ your library®” literacy initiative. This initiative is funded by the Dollar General Liter= acy Foundation.

The grant funds will be used by the Lee County Library System (LCLS) to expand its current English Café program. This prog= ram, currently offered at four LCLS locations, provides adult learners with the opportunity to practice speaking English with native speakers. The money w= ill provide for recruitment and training of additional volunteers to offer a n= ew 10-week session of English Café at the Northwest Regional Library, purchase of additional literacy materials to support the program, and prin= ting and distribution of publicity materials.

For more than a century, public libraries have been a= cornerstone of the American Dream, providing equal access to information of all kinds. Libraries are among the first American institutions immigrants turn to for= help in learning how to read, write and speak English. The LCLS English Caf&eac= ute; program provides the local immigrant community with access to a unique ser= vice not offered by other literacy providers in Lee County. Since October 2009 almost 250 non-native speakers have participated in the English Café program.

For more information about the grant and/or the LCLS = English Café program, call 533-4440 or check on the library system’s = web page at: http://library.leego= v.com/services/programs

About the ALA
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library associa= tion in the world, with more than 63,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

About Dollar General
Dollar General is a leading discount retailer with more than 8,800 neighborhood stores. Dollar General stores prov= ide convenience and value to customers by offering consumable basic items such= as food, snacks, health and beauty aids and cleaning supplies, as well as bas= ic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at everyday low prices. The compan= y has a longstanding tradition of supporting literacy and education. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more= than $40 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 2.1 mi= llion individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education di= ploma or English proficiency. To learn more about Dollar General, visit www.dollargeneral.com.

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