MLP Programs & Services
Marin Literacy Program provides Marin County adults with free student-centered instruction in reading, writing and speaking to help them reach their full potential at work, at home and in the community. Begun in 1985 with a five-year $31,000 grant from the California State Library, the program is now jointly sponsored by the Marin County Free Library, San Rafael Public Library and Marin Literacy 501(c)(3). Marin Literacy Program has served over 8,400 adult students and trained nearly 5,000 tutors since its inception, and currently has an annual operating budget of over $550,000. Services are provided to Marin County adults, families and inmates in a variety of ways and delivered in diverse settings:
Adult Literacy Services (ALS) trains volunteer tutors who are carefully matched with Marin residents over 16 years of age who wish to improve their literacy skills. Adult students are tutored in both one-to-one and small group settings and are offered a variety of additional learning opportunities, such as book clubs and workshops.
Family Literacy Services
Family Literacy Services (FLS) tutors assist parents and caregivers who are responsible for children under five and who are working to improve their own literacy skills. FLS adult students receive Gift Books for their children and benefit from Family Storytimes and family literacy workshops.
Inmate Literacy Services
Inmate Literacy Services (ILS) helps inmates at San Quentin State Prison and Marin County Jail who want to improve their literacy and parenting skills. Through Project REACH at San Quentin, inmates receive instruction from trained inmate tutors and community volunteers. Upon completion of FATHERS and MOTHERS Programs, inmates choose quality Gift Books for the children in their lives.
West Marin Literacy Services (WMLS) offers English instruction, family literacy, and preparation for the GED and citizenship to second-language learners in West Marin, in both one-to-one tutoring sessions and small group classes.
F.L.A.G.ship
The FLAGship (Families Learning and Growing) mobile learning center welcomes caregivers and children under five, living in isolated and underserved areas and not attending pre-school, onboard the bus to develop school readiness skills.
