Literacy
Literacy is the ability to read, write and do basic maths. Over 40% of the adult population in New Zealand struggle to do so well enough to meet the demands of modern life and work.1
This page outlines the various ways in which Christchurch City Libraries can help you improve literacy skills and is aimed at both students and tutors.
International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day is celebrated on 8 September. It is a UNESCO-led initiative which acknowledges that literacy is a human right.
Browse our catalogue
English language skills collections are available in most of our larger libraries and online. They include resources for both people with literacy difficulties and their tutors. They are designed to help develop skills:
Literacy
Simplified readers
The range of resources varies, but all English Language Skills collections include simplified readers: books which have been written or re-written especially so that they can be enjoyed by people with different levels of reading ability.
Simplified reader series in the catalogue include:
Simplified readers
Dyslexia-friendly books
Dyslexia is a term used to describe a range of persistent difficulties with aspects of reading, writing, and spelling. Around 10% of the population has dyslexia, and common symptoms are that words and letters appear to “move around on the page” or blur and blend into each other. Dyslexia-friendly books use a special typeface and off-white pages to help dyslexic readers.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia
Confessions of a dyslexic librarian
Dyslexia and eBook settings
OpenDyslexic Font
The OpenDyslexic font is installed on our public computers. On a Free Internet public computer you can create or edit a document and use OpenDyslexic from the available fonts menu.
The OpenDyslexic Chrome extension is installed on our public computers. To activate in the Chrome web browser select the extensions tool bar icon (it looks like a jigsaw puzzle on the right-side of the address bar), then select OpenDyslexic.
eResources for people with limited literacy skills
Use these eResources at a library or enter your library card and password / PIN
Access a self-study preparation course to help candidates prepare for the globally recognised IELTS exam. It tests English use at a general level.
World Book Discover offers access to reference resources for reluctant readers, students with learning difficulties, adult literacy students or those who are learning English as a second language.
eResources
Road to IELTS: General
World Book Discover
Find adult literacy providers in CINCH
CINCH lists contact details for adult literacy providers in Christchurch and surrounding areas.
Providers include Literacy Aotearoa Aoraki, Hagley Adult Literacy Centre and Adult Literacy at Ara Institute of Canterbury. Some organisations provide tutoring one-to-one or to small groups; others offer a more structured class-based approach.
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Related pages
Footnotes
1. The Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey: An Introduction, Ministry of Education, September 2007. Accessed 5 September 2012.
