Literacy Resources in Rockland County, NY

Find literacy and reading resources in Rockland County, NY, including children's reading enrichment programs and volunteer opportunities for teens and adults.

Literacy Volunteers of Rockland County

Libraries throughout Rockland County

(845) 708-9072

This organization invites you to train as a literacy volunteer and enhance the reading and writing skills of undereducated and foreign-born adults. Tutors commit to a full year (one to two hours a week, 75-100 hours total) of one-on-one work with students at one of the 17 libraries in the county. Begin your 18 hours of tutor training by calling or contacting Barbara Koch at [email protected].

RIF: Reading Is Fundamental

Chestnut Ridge, Nyack, Tappan , Spring Valley

Reading Is Fundamental serves children through a national network of volunteer coordinators and literacy programs in nearly 19,000 locations across the U.S., including Nyack (Nyack Head Start), Chestnut Ridge (Fleetwood Elementary School), Spring Valley (Spring Valley Head Start), and Tappan (William O. Schaeffer Elementary). Last year, in New York state alone, 328,935 children selected 1,159,279 books to keep as their own. Visit the website to learn about volunteering, donating, or advocating with Congress to maintain funding beyond the current temporary funding resolution set to expire on March 4.

Rockland County AmeriCorps Literacy Corps

New City

(845) 708-7307

[email protected]

Volunteers with a love of children, toys, and books who have 450 hours a year (about 10-12 per week) to spare might consider joining the Parent-Child Home Program through the Rockland County AmeriCorps Literacy Corps. Best for moms with school-age children, students over the age of 21, and active retirees, the program typically places volunteers with five to seven families for 30 minutes in the family's home. Volunteers work with the families to encourage learning through play with a different story or toy each week. Volunteers receive a $3,123 stipend and an educational reward for $1,415 that helps them to pay for college expenses or an outstanding loan balance for up to seven years after graduation. Call or e-mail project coordinator Kathy Galione to begin the training process.

Rose Memorial Library

Stony Point

(845) 786-2100 x13

Rockland teens looking to earn community service hours, share their creativity, or read with the little ones are encouraged to join the Teen Advisory Group at the Rose Memorial Library. Between messy bookshelves and various children's library projects, 6-12th graders work hard to maximize the book-borrowing, information-obtaining experience of the library for all who enter. E-mail Benjamin Reid at [email protected] for more information.

Also see: How to Help Your Child Be a Confident Reader

Resources: Our Education Resource Guide for the New York metro area

Our Online Calendar, for storytelling events and more in Rockland County and the New York metro area