North Shore Gas gives $20,000 to support literacy
By EL CONQUISTADOR
Waukegan — North Shore Gas has committed $20,000 to help fund a new 3,200 square-foot Family Literacy Suite, under construction now at the Waukegan Public Library.
Scheduled to open this month, the Literacy Suite will provide free one-on-one tutoring, adult education classes, family literacy classes for parents and their children age 6 and under, plus a classroom computer lab.
“North Shore Gas truly understands the efforts we are making at the Waukegan Public Library to improve educational opportunities for adults and children in Waukegan,” says Richard Lee, executive director.
Recently, the utility sponsored a “Dig the Dinosaurs” exhibit, on display now at the award-winning Early Learning Center, located adjacent to the future Literacy Suite.
The Waukegan Public Library has long crusaded for literacy in Lake County.
For the past 25 years, the library has partnered with the College of Lake County and the LiteracyVolunteers of Lake County to provide literacy services, most recently at the Adult Learning and Technology Center in Waukegan.
Last year, the program helped educate 336 adults and children, primarily from Waukegan, Round Lake, North Chicago and Zion. Nearly half of those learners spoke English as a second language.
Moving the program in-house will allow the library to expand educational services, save rental costs, and provide access to additional learning space at the Early Learning Center.
Parents enrolled in the family literacy classes will work on basic reading and math skills, while their babies and toddlers develop critical pre-literacy skills like letter recognition, rhyming and counting.
“This addition to the library will assist adults in meeting their learning goals, and help parents prepare their children for kindergarten,” says Barbara Babb, literacy program manager.
Tutors and teachers are trained, above all, to help nurture a love of reading. State and federal grants fund most of the program administration.
In November, the library launched its “Legacy of Literacy” fundraising campaign to underwrite the cost to build the new facility, estimated at $70,000 for construction, furniture, fixtures and equipment. With the
North Shore Gas contribution, the library has passed the midpoint of its fundraising goal.
“Legacy for Literacy” offers several levels of giving, each with donor recognition, along with naming opportunities for two of the rooms.
To make a contribution or learn more about the Literacy Suite, call Elizabeth Stearns at (847) 623-2041, ext. 256.
