A key reason for the growth that Oneida Public Library’s Project Read has experienced since its beginnings in 2000 has been the Literacy Coalition of community agencies that the library formed that same year. These agencies provide the people in the Greater Oneida Area and throughout Madison County a broad spectrum of services that can make the difference between an unskilled and an educated workforce. Literacy is critical in this process. The support and referrals that these Coalition partners provide are essential for Project Read’s continued growth.

Current membership in the Project Read Literacy Coalition includes:

• Central New York Community Foundation
• Community Action Partnership for Madison County
• Continuing Education, Madison-Oneida Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
• Early Childhood Education, Madison-Oneida (BOCES)
• Liberty Resources
• Literacy Volunteers of America/MidYork, Inc.
• Madison-Cortland ARC
• Madison County Department of Health
• Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
• Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Madison County (RSVP)
• Oneida City School District
• Working Solutions, Madison County Employment and Training (New York State Department of Labor)

'The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) appreciates the partnership that has been developed with the Oneida Library's Project Read Literacy Program and has witnessed through the Coalition the positive impact this program makes in the community.'

EILEEN AUGUSTYN
Director of RSVP
of Madison County

Representatives from these community agencies and organizations meet bimonthly at the Oneida Public Library to share ideas, make referrals and keep up to date on the needs and growth of Project Read.

Every year, the Project Read Literacy Coalition has attracted additional area organizations. We would welcome any new members that have an interest in expanding literacy services in Greater Oneida and Madison County . Whether you are part of a social agency or a business or just a concerned individual, consider joining the Project Read Literacy Coalition and helping to make a real difference in the future of our community.

For more information about the Project Read Literacy Coalition, contact Project Read Coordinator Judy Donnelly at (315) 363-3050, ext. 30.