FAQs

If you have queries about our programs, please peruse the list of Frequently Asked Questions below. To see the answer, click on the question. If you find neither your question nor an answer to your inquiry, then you may care to look at the READ/San Diego Adult Literacy Program website, the San Diego Council on Literacy website, or you may contact us directly with your query.

General FAQs

What is READ/San Diego?

The READ/San Diego Adult Literacy Program is the literacy tutoring service of the City of San Diego's Public Library. This is a free and confidential service that matches a trained, volunteer tutor with any adult, English speaking resident of the City of San Diego, who is seeking help with reading and writing skills, from a beginners level all the way up to attaining a GED.

Who are the Friends of READ/San Diego?

The Friends of READ/San Diego is a federally recognized non-profit 501(c)(3) (ID# 33-0522311) made up of a board of volunteers who support literacy programs in San Diego County, including the READ/San Diego Adult Literacy Program.

Why are these two different organizations?

READ/San Diego is the adult literacy program of the City of San Diego Public Library, and is a government agency. As such it operates under the rules that regulate all city departments. As an external, non-profit, non-governmental agency, the Friends of READ/San Diego is able to operate differently and with a wider scope than the geographic boundaries of the city, and with a slightly different mission.

How common is the problem of adult illiteracy in San Diego?

Unfortunately, very common. A 2003 United States Department of Education study concluded that over 420,000 residents of San Diego County are operating at below basic literacy skills. That's about 20% or one in five adults.

Those figures, adjusted for time and demographic shifts, bring the current figure to over 422,000 adults in the county. These are the basic skills required for every day living, such as understanding signage like you would find in a hospital or clinic. The ability to read a complex transit schedule, or to comprehend a newspaper or magazine article, or even the having the joy of reading to a child, is denied to too many in our community.

How can I help?

There are several ways that you can help.

There is always a need for tutor volunteers. Though it does require a commitment of time and energy, the rewards of directly tutoring one other person to attain their goals in learning are well worth the effort.

Alternately, there is a need for volunteer help with some of the logistical support functions of running READ/San Diego.

You can join the Friends of READ/San Diego, and help us in the cause to support literacy.

Do you belong to a company or civic organization that offers community support grants? Money, goods, or services may also be donated. For example coordinated purchases of new childrens books for use with the Families For Literacy (FFL) Program are sometimes made. Please contact us directly if you would like to assist in one of these ways.

Help us to spread the word about the problems of illiteracy in our community and the solutions being provided by READ/San Diego, the Friends of READ/San Diego, the San Diego Council on Literacy, the public school system, and your local public library. Urge your friends and family to support learning. You can help us to do this virally, with minimal effort, by listing this website in the signature line of your emails.

We will also gratefully accept a financial donation, but as you can tell from the requests made above this is not our focus.

What if I know someone who needs help?

If you know someone who needs literacy tutoring (from the K through the 12th grade level), is an adult and an English-speaking resident of the City of San Diego, that person can contact the offices of READ/San Diego .

If they live outside of the city, but within the County of San Diego, they should contact the San Diego Council on Literacy where they can be referred to one of over 23 programs that may be able to help them.

Volunteers FAQs

What kind of commitment is asked of volunteer tutors?

In brief terms, volunteer tutors to go through 15 hours of training, and to make a commitment to tutor 5 hours a week for six months. This may seem like a long time, but it brings about a real, positive and lasting change in another person's life. The personnel at the READ/San Diego Adult Literacy Program can best answer these questions more specifically.