“The American Dream Starts @ your library” grant funds literacy and immigrant services at Chantilly Regional Library.

Chantilly Regional Library, a branch of the Fairfax County Public Library, is one of 34 libraries nationwide that has received “The American Dream Starts @ your library” grant to help increase literacy services to adult English language learners. Each of the winning libraries receive a one-time award of $5,000. The grants are funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and implemented by the American Library Association (ALA).

Chantilly Regional Library will use the grant to provide books, workbooks and materials for students in its Tuesday morning conversations for recent immigrants to the U.S. The Tuesday morning program is designed to ease their transition to the U.S. and help them develop their language skills and understanding of American culture. Currently 15-18 adults participate.

“These non-traditional students are so eager to learn and are extremely appreciative of the opportunity this class affords them,” says Jaye Lahlou, Adult Services Librarian for Chantilly Library. “The library is now a place where they meet to learn, share and feel respected in their community. It has been a privilege to be a part of this process.”

Public libraries have long been a cornerstone of the American dream, providing equal access to information. It is one of the first places to which many immigrants turn for help in learning to read, write and speak English.

“As a longtime supporter of literacy and education, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to fund the ‘American Dream’ grant initiative,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s CEO. “Public libraries are in a unique position to directly reach immigrants and help them assimilate into a new community. These grants will enable local libraries to provide the English language literacy services most needed in their area.”

The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) recently found that 11 million U.S. adults or approximately one in 20, many of whom are immigrants, have such limited English skills that they can’t read a newspaper, understand the directions for medication or help their children with schoolwork. “The American Dream Starts @ your library” grant was founded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and ALA to meet the growing demand for English language literacy services.

A complete list of the winning libraries is available at www.ala.org.