Updates

OCLC's New Phone Number: 919-636-4457

OCLC has MOVED! We are now at 200 N. Greensboro Street, Suite C-2 in Carrboro (upstairs at Carr Mill Mall, above the Panzanella restaurant). For directions, click here. Our office is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Fridays from 9-5.

OCLC needs volunteers to welcome students and tutors and perform light office work (copies, scanning, answering phones, etc). Reception volunteers can sign up for anywhere between 2-35 hours a week. A weekly committment is needed, as well as familiarity with computers. Click here to fill out an application!

OCLC is excited to announce the launch of its new computer lab! The lab is located in our offices at Carr Mill Mall, and will be open Mondays-Thursdays from 9-11 am and 3-6 pm. Students are encouraged use the lab to learn beginning computer skills or to practice skills learned in class. To volunteer to be a monitor in our new computer lab, click here to fill out an application!

Tutor Training

Pre-registration is required for all Tutor Training Workshops. Prospective tutors must attend both Session 1 - Introduction to Adult Literacy/ESOL and Session 2 - Core Prinicpals.

Session 1 - Introduction to Adult Literacy

Session 2 - Core Principles

Before prospective tutors can attend training and begin working with a student or small group, they must fill out our online application. OCLC will then contact volunteers whose schedules and interests fit our current needs and invite those volunteers to attend an upcoming session.

Please call us at 919-636-4457 if you have any questions about orientation or training.

Current Classes

Note: Pre-Registration is required for all ABE classes

[Beginning ABE]

Thursdays - 1:00-3:00pm, Hillsborough Senior Center

[Beginning ABE Puzzles and Games]

Tuesdays - 6:30-7:30 pm, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 210 St. Mary's Rd., Hillsborough

[GED Intermediate Math]

Tuesdays and Thursdays - 9-10:30 am, 200 N. Greensboro Street, Suite C-2, Carrboro

[ESOL Conversation Lab]

Tuesdays- 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Seymour Senior Center

[ESOL Conversation Group]

Fridays- 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 pm, 200 N. Greensboro Street, Suite C-2, Carrboro

Don't see a class that fits your needs? To learn about all of our small group classes and tutoring options, give us a call at (919) 636-4457!

OCLC Newsletters

Winter 2008 Newsletter

Newsletter Archive

Literacy for All

“Literacy is not a luxury; it is a right and a responsibility. If our world is to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century we must harness the energy and creativity of all our citizens.”

—President Clinton on International Literacy Day

OCLC News:

OCLC Student highlighted in UNC's The Resource

Mayra Cruz has found herself on the front page of not one, but two publications in the last week! After appearing in our newsletter (released last week), she can also be found on the front page of this month's The Resource, an internal publication of UNC Facilities Services. Our congratulations go to Mayra for obtaining her GED, and for her new-found fame! Read the article here.

READ!

The Summer 2010 Edition of our newsletter is now available online. Click here.

It's time to re-link your Harris Teeter VIC Card!

Ask your cashier or customer service representative to link your VIC card to Orange County Literacy Council (#4935). When you purchase select Harris Teeter Brand products using their VIC card, Harris Teeter will contribute a percentage of those purchase dollars to OCLC.

OCLC Open House: Celebrating National Literacy Month

The community is invited to two free literacy events at OCLC. These events will also serve as an opportunity to learn about OCLC’s students, the free programs that help them build literacy skills, and how to become involved in this rewarding work. Please click here for more information.

Jeffrey Deaver to speak at Writers for Readers

Planning is underway for our 4th Annual Writers for Readers event. Author and Southern culture and folklore scholar William Ferris (Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues) will be our Honorary Chair. Best-selling author Jeffrey Deaver (The Burning Wire, The Devil’s Teacup) will be featured. Deaver was recently selected by the estate of Ian Fleming to write the newest in the James Bond series.

Students, Tutors and Staff Enjoy a Cookout in Wilson Park

Picture of June Cookout Event

On June 26, students, tutors and staff from OCLC gathered for a picnic in Wilson Park in Carrboro. Despite the heat, guests enjoyed a potluck meal and burgers and hot dogs from the grill. Students who attended more than 80 hours of class during the past year and students who reached significant educational goals were given awards to recognize their achievements and dedication. Thanks to everyone who braved the heat and made it a fun afternoon!

Art Exhibition to Benefit OCLC

Hand In Hand Art Show

The Friends of the Carrboro Branch Library are presenting "Hand in Hand", an art exhibition to benefit The Orange County Literacy Council, Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC- Carrboro Clinics), and TABLE (children's weekend backpack feeding program).

Artwork from Linda Carmel, Barbara Keighton, Louise Francke, Nerys Levy, Jane Ludington, David Taylor, Miriam Sagasti, and Marilyn Strother will be on display in the Carrboro Branch Library from June 19th - November 30.

A reception will be held Sunday, June 20 from 2-4:30 p.m. The Carrboro Branch Library is located at McDougle Middle School at 900 Old Fayetteville Road. Library hours are Monday-Thursday 3:30 - 8 pm, Saturday 10 am - 2 pm and Sunday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

OCLC has a new wish list on Amazon

OCLC now has a wishlist on Amazon.com where you can find literacy materials for students and tutors and office items to donate to help our programs. Check out our new wishlist here.

Citizen Partners Curriculum Guide Now Available

Click here to download our Citizen Partners Curriculum Guide.

OCLC's GED preparation class at UNC featured in University Gazette:

OCLC's GED preparation class for housekeeping and maintenance employees at UNC Chapel Hill was featured in the Unversity Gazette. Click here to read the article!

OCLC Tutor Jon Livers in the Senior Times!

OCLC conversation group leader Jon Livers was featured recently in an article in the Senior Times.

Jon leads weekly conversation groups at the Seymour Center for students working to improve their English speaking and listening skills. Check out the article from the Senior Times here.

Book Crossing Books available at OCLC office!

The Orange County Literacy Council has books for read and release through Book Crossing's online tracking system. Volunteers and students may take a book from the front table in our office, labeled with the Book Crossing logo.

The books have been entered into Book Crossing's online tracking system. Read it, and release it back into the wild for another person to enjoy.

For more information on Book Crossing, visit www.bookcrossing.com and look for the Book Crossing table in our Carrboro office!

Writers for Readers in the news:

George Singelton signs books after the Writers for Readers Luncheon.

NEWS & OBSERVER: Illiteracy Rates Inspire Authors to Help

By Glen McDonald

CHAPEL HILL - It's no secret that the Triangle is a highly literate place. But even with the universities and the technology concerns, there are startling discrepancies.

In Orange County alone, 12 percent of the population - or about 8,600 residents, has significant literacy needs, acording to the Orange County Literacy Council... read more

CHAPEL HILL MAGAZINE: Wells Tower, Charlaine Harris and More at Writers for Readers Luncheon

By Lisa Rossi

I was lucky enough to snap up a seat by Wells Tower, whose book Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned, is getting a lot of attention, at the luncheon supporting the Orange County Literacy Council today... read more

Writers for Readers Author Wells Tower on 'This American Life'

A story from Wells Tower, one of the authors featured at our upcoming Writers for Readers event, was featured on a recent episode of NPR's This American Life radio broadcast. Click here to listen to a free podcast!

Annual Student/Tutor Banquet

OCLC held its Annual Student/Tutor Potluck Banquet Tuesday Dec. 1. Click below to see a slideshow of images from the banquet!

OCLC 25th Anniversary and Open House

OCLC held an open house Nov. 19th to celebrate its new Carrboro office space and to mark its 25th anniversary. Click the image below to see a slideshow of photos from the event!

Citizen Partners Curriculum Guide

Click here to download our Citizen Partners Curriculum Guide.

OCLC offers free individualized instruction for adults who want to improve their reading, writing, basic math and English language skills or to prepare for the GED. OCLC matches trained volunteer tutors with adult learners.