THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 27, 1995 TAG: 9510260174
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
FOR MARCELA DelRIO, a Virginia Beach homemaker, mother of two and G.E.D. candidate, having the resources of the Adult Learning Center's computer lab at her disposal is like a dream come true.
``I couldn't finish high school in my country,'' the Guadalajara, Mexico, native said. ``One of my goals has been to do that.''
Thanks to the courses offered through city schools, she is very close to getting that prized piece of paper needed to enter college or qualify for a better job.
And thanks to a lot of support from the community in general and the Virginia Beach Friends of the Public Library in particular, the school system is able to teach G.E.D., English as a Second Language and Adult Basic Education courses with the help of computers and software that make the learning process a lot more interesting and effective.
An added benefit for the most basic of the computer learning programs, called the Principle of the Alphabet Literacy (PALS), is the anonymity it offers students who are sensitive about their inability to read.
``They can always say that they are taking a computer course, which they are,'' lab coordinator Susan Sandler said.
Although the PALS program is designed for those who have little ability to read, the generous donations have allowed for the addition of more sophisticated computer learning programs for advanced students such as DelRio.
In recognition of its long time support, the Friends of the Public Library has been named the 1995 recipient of the Virginia Literacy Foundation's Jeannie P. Baliles Award for outstanding support for a literacy program by a group or organization.
Although the local group is best known for its financial support for the libraries, members decided back in the late 1980s to take on the responsibility for raising funds to equip the computer learning lab.
``We solicited some funds from businesses and individuals,'' Ola Parrish, who chairs the friends' literacy committee, said, ``and raised others ourselves.''
To date those funds total more than $80,000. Now in its fifth year of operation, the computer learning lab has served more than 5,000 students.
Friends of the Public Library volunteers continue to donate hundreds of hours each year, working one on one with students, training new volunteers and providing support to the Adult Learning Center staff.
Parrish, a retired school librarian, is one of those volunteers. It's work that she finds particularly rewarding.
``I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing people learn to read,'' she said, especially those who have never read before. MEMO: For information on volunteering call 473-5091.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JO-ANN CLEGG
Susan Sandler, left, and Ola Parrish, right, who chairs the literacy
committee, work with Marcela DelRio, who is earning her G.E.D. with
the help of the Friends of the Public Library program.
by CNB