Mesa County Libraries Searching for Volunteers

The Adult Literacy Program at Mesa County Libraries is seeking volunteer tutors to help people learn English, improve their English skills, and prepare for U.S. citizenship.

According to Karen Kllanxhja, Head of Literacy Services for Mesa County Libraries, more than 100 people are on the waiting list for English instruction. “They want to learn. They are motivated to learn, and they need tutors to help them,” Kllanxhja explains.

Anyone wishing to become a tutor for the Adult Literacy Program is encouraged to attend a Volunteer Tutor Information Session. Two sessions are scheduled for Thursday, March 7 at the Mesa County Central Library, 655 North 1st Street (First Street and Gunnison Avenue in Grand Junction). First session is from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and the second session is from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Each year, Mesa County Libraries provide language-tutoring services to hundreds of people from more than 30 countries. Volunteer tutors are crucial to those services, helping students practice and learn language skills.

Kllanxhja says demand for the services is outpacing the number of tutors, and more volunteer assistance is needed to ensure that help is available for all students.

The Adult Literacy Program is seeking people with the time and passion to help others and who can make a commitment to tutoring.

Mesa County Libraries provide tutor training and a series of printed and online materials for tutors and their students to use. The library also assesses the skills of all students to ensure that tutors are matched to students with an appropriate level of skill.

English-speaking tutors don’t need to know another language in order to be a tutor; they need only the ability to guide motivated adults who want to learn English.

For more information, call Karen at 970-683-2431.