NORWICH – Literacy Volunteers of Chenango County is hoping to raise the numbers of student learners, as well as the number of persons interested in being trained to become tutors.

In order to increase the numbers of students and tutors, it is important to raise awareness that this service exists, provided at no cost to students.

Approximately 4,000 people are functionally illiterate in Chenango County. The primary goal of Literacy Volunteers of Chenango County (LVCC) is working to effect change in the lives of individuals and beyond that, for their lives and increased productivity and contributions to have a positive impact on their families and the community.

Approximately 42 percent of the adults in the county have some type of challenge with basic reading, writing, math or computer literacy skills. Definite connections between illiteracy and poverty exist, which is why such a focus on helping adults in the county is in place to help adults gain these important skills. Students (learners) are living at or blow the poverty level, and they often have several barriers. These barriers include transportation and childcare, to name a few.

Meeting in a public place that is agreed on by the tutor and student when they meet is one of the very first things that has to be decided. Literacy is one of the main predictors of employment and income. The nine public libraries in the county encourage literacy in various ways, including reading hours for children and offering materials at different reading levels.