Tech Tools Advance Adult Literacy Tuesday Tea with a Twist Carolyn Wood, Adult Services and Technology Librarian Marie Downes McDonald, Library Director West Deptford Free Public Library Thorofare, NJ

4/24/072 Read, write, and publish Learners discuss books of a variety of genres and draft a short review during themed sessions. Reviews are electronically reformatted and posted as a blogging feature on utilizing WordPress platform. Learners add to the blog remotely or from computer workstations in the library to further discussion on monthly reviews building social networks. Literacy increases through reading, discussion, writing and web publishing. Developing ideas and stretching imagination.

4/24/073 Focus on the importance of technology as a literacy tool. The twist is the infusion of technology expands usability of a variety of material formats and currently available technologies of the Library. Learner interest and confidence in literacy and technology skills improve through unleashing creativity and blogging on West Deptford Reader Reviews at Use statistics rise due to tech talk instructional sessions that increase use of online Library resources and material circulation.

4/24/074 W.D. Readers Review Blog 2007 Book Themes Best Picks of 2006 Immigration Stories Romance Nonfiction (Readers select themes for the second half of the sessions promoting “personal ownership” of Tuesday Tea with a Twist.) Armchair Travel Historical Fiction Mystery

4/24/075 Tech Talk Topics Laptop computers Digital cameras Playaways and digital audiobooks Online resources Novelist NextReads Theatre in Video, Black Thought and Culture, Latino Literature, Alexander Street Press Reader’s Advisor Online, Greenwood Publishing Group What Do I Read Next, Thomson Gale

4/24/076 Tuesday Tea with a Twist 90 minute session breakdown (Pre-session reading and post-session blogging excluded.)

4/24/077 Project Outcomes to Date 53 Playaway circulations during the first month! Growing West Deptford Reader Reviews blog with 20 posts, 7 categories at midpoint evaluation. NovelIdeas companion blog creation and development. Pizza & Paperbacks teen program based on Tuesday Tea with a Twist pilot project. Teen blog to begin summer Midpoint evaluation by twelve attendees confirming high satisfaction with program content and delivery.

4/24/078 Project Outcomes to Date 17 page family history typed by an attendee who had never used a computer and credits the program. Two program attendees volunteer to monitor blog. Letters of thanks for new materials, especially Playaways! Increase in material circulation Expand technology use

4/24/079 Improve Literacy Develop readers and writers Institute skill building timeline Instill collaborative learning Reinforce peer feedback Increase socialization Expand educated community

4/24/0710 Build Knowledge Increase technology use Promote critical analysis Improve reading comprehension Develop writing skills Unleash creative thinking

4/24/0711 Read Self-selected works Various genres New styles of literature West Deptford Reader Reviews blog

4/24/0712 Connect Share favorite authors Discuss different opinions Post blog entries Build social networks

4/24/0713 Write Develop ideas Compile thoughts Compose copy Stretch imagination

4/24/0714 Create Desire to use the Internet Paths to share ideas Communication systems Written publications Passion for reading

4/24/0715 Publish Personal book reviews Blog postings Online comments Digital photographs More content

4/24/0716 Inspire Reading Writing Creativity Self-esteem Humanity

4/24/0717 Literacy Grant Partners This Public Library Literacy Leadership Grant is supported by the New Jersey State Library and is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency whose mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

4/24/0718 Learn More about Tuesday Tea with a Twist! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please contact: Carolyn Wood Adult Services and Technology Librarian West Deptford Free Public Library 420 Crown Point Road Thorofare, NJ Visit the project on the web View blog and/or post comments