POPE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM AND RIVER VALLEY ADULT LEARNING ALLIANCE PARTNER TO PROMOTE FAMILY LITERACY

Russellville, Arkansas: The Pope County Library System is pleased to welcome the River Valley Adult Learning Alliance (RVALA) as a family literacy partner. RVALA family literacy liaison, Maria Johnson, will attend Preschool Storytime at the Pope County Library in Russellville at 10:00 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to assist Spanish speaking families and promote biliteracy. Ms. Johnson will also participate in the Pope County Library System Homeschool Connection’s quarterly community events. 

RVALA operates under the Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas umbrella and is supported by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. The organization provides free, accessible quality instruction and support to adults, including reading, math, digital literacy, and English as a Second Language. Thanks to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the Pope County Community Foundation, and the University of Arkansas Community Literacies Collaborative, RVALA is now also able to reach entire families and provide bilingual education. 

By attending Storytime at the Pope County Library, RVALA will connect with local children and their parents, enabling them to provide support for the whole family and to promote literacy in English and Spanish. ARVALA Executive Director Meredith Martin-Moats says, “We see the need to build a community of lifelong learners. Studies show a parent’s reading level is the single biggest indicator of a child’s ability to learn and succeed; helping adults is helping children.” Thanks to a grant from the Pope County Community Foundation, RVALA purchased an outdoor sandwich board to display at the library parking lot entrance to signal their presence when they are at the library.