Kentucky Humanities Council
206 E. Maxwell StreetLexingtonKY40508606-257-5932606-257-5933

Program: New Books for New Readers Year Started: 1988 Focus: History & Literature Youth Served: N/A Ages: 16-21 Budget: $12,500 For the 400,000 Kentuckians, many of whom are teenagers and single mothers, who read below the fourth grade level, New Books for New Readers provides a unique gateway to literacy. Each year, the Kentucky Humanities Council contracts with a Kentucky author to develop a book in collaboration with a small group of adult literacy students and their tutors. Over a period of 6 months, the participants receive sections of the book from the author to read and critique one-on-one with a tutor and then as a group with the author. After the group critique, the author rewrites the sections based on the feedback. When the book is completed, it is published by the University Press of Kentucky and disseminated widely to libraries, literacy and state jobs training programs, schools, family service centers, programs for the deaf and English-as-a-Second-Language programs. The books are written on a fourth grade reading level but address substantial topics. To further promote reading, the Humanities Council offers free book discussion programs in which a group of new readers is given one of the books to read and to discuss with a scholar provided by the Council. The program helps develop participantsÌ self-confidence because they feel free to communicate their ideas in an environment that is self- affirming. "Not only are parents now able to read news-papers and job ads, but they can also help their children with schoolwork," explains Director Virginia Smith. "It means a lot to the kids to see their parents reading and studying. It helps the children to be more oriented towards success in reading themselves."