Fairfield County Literacy Council

The Lancaster Literacy Council (FCLC) was established in 1971 to meet the needs of non-reading adults in Fairfield County. Naomi Andres was the founder and Church Women United was the sponsor.

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In 1981, the Fairfield County District Library received a federal grant to promote literacy. Grace Meyers, library outreach coordinator, was instrumental in applying for this grant. The two groups formed Fairfield County Literacy Council. Grace Meyers served as president for two decades. In the past 40 years, through one-on-one tutoring utilizing the services of over 450 tutors, the Council has served more than 600 clients. In the early 1980s, at one time there were 26 students will 11 on the waiting list.

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The library and Friends of the Library continue to support FCLC, currently providing assistance with programs; facilities for meetings, tutoring, and storage; messenger and mail services; and help with designing and printing materials. Through the years the Literacy Council has received grants from corporations, service organizations, and United Way. Currently, FCLC is receiving financial support from churches, service groups and local businesses.

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In 1992, the Kiwanis Clubs established an Excellence Award program. These funds provide awards for students reaching certain goals to encourage them to continue imporving their reading skills.

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In 1994, the Rotary Clubs provided funding for FCLC to conduct a major effort to reach non-reading adults. The Council placed ads on local Cable TV, radio and in newspapers; sent fliers home with school children; provided placements for restaurants; bought balloons, pencils, and pens to distribute at community educational events.

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In 1996 and 1997, grants were awarded to the Literacy Council from United Way of Fairfield County to initiate a Family Literacy Project. It established an intergenerational reading program to teach parents with low literacy skills the importance of reading to and with their children. This program was discontinued in 2005. The remaining books and materials were donated to Even Start, West Side After School Program and the parent visitation room at Job and Family Services. Many of these books were given to children in these programs.

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From 2002 through 2010, Time-Warner's annual Adult Literacy Promotion donated a total of $3,030 toward the cost of materials used by tutors and students. Loss of this yearly donation makes the Fairfield County Literacy Council even more dependent on local support.

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In 2004, lack of state funds cancelled the library's story times at bookmobile stops and area pre-schools. Literacy Council members have been reading to children in several locations. To encourage Family Literacy, reading related crafts are presented at community events for families. Pizza, Pop and Puppets, held on National Literacy Day, promotes the need for reading to or with their child from birth through grade school.

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English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) has been a part of the Literacy Council's program since the early 1990s. With the turn of the century, more immigrants have moved into the county, many with preparation for the Citizenship test as their goal. 

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In 2005, the Literacy Council received a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation Adult Literacy Program. In support of students in the ESOL program and to honor the founders of FCLC, the Council donated to the Library, hundreds of children's books in foreign languages.

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The Literacy Council takes part in many community activities for families, emphasizing the importance of reading and writing. The Council posts notices on bulletin boards in laundries, thrift shops and other places frequented by people who may need our service. Newspaper articles reach people who may know of someone who needs to improve their reading and writing skills.

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