Just after Christmas I was recounting my experiences in the North to a friend who has a literacy program in Southern Alberta. At one point she interrupted me and said, "I certainly hope you plan on including us in your book!" So as soon as the last of the spring storms had passed I headed south to sample some "Southern Alberta hospitality". Lethbridge was my first stop.
The Read On Literacy Program, coordinated by MARGOT POLLARD, is located on the lower floor of the Lethbridge Public Library. I found Margot in her little corner office in the basement of the library. She was on the phone when I arrived so I contentedly occupied myself by browsing through books on shelves just outside her office.
"Welcome," Margot called to me when she hung up the phone.
"It certainly seems fitting to be surrounded by books when you work in literacy," I said to Margot as I walked over to say hello.
"It's a great place," Margot agreed. "Some of the students are a little intimidated at first but they get used to it. The library has been so good to us all; this program couldn't exist without the library's help."
Margot is a trained elementary and kindergarten teacher. In 1984 she volunteered as a tutor with the literacy program at the library and a year later was asked to coordinate the program. Margot started out working part-time with 18 student/tutor pairs. She is now working full-time with over 60 pairs.
The Read On Program is funded through the Department of Advanced Education but the library donates office space, clerical help, shelf space for literacy resources and generous ongoing support to Margot and the work she is doing. Known for her straightforwardness Margot lobbied steadily (even threatening to get down on her knees - in public) to get an increase in her grant from the provincial government so that the program could become full-time.
"I know I am very lucky," Margot said. "I am paid a decent salary with full benefits and a pension. I don't know of many other coordinators who get benefits, who aren't just on a 10 month contract from year to year. The kind of support I get from the library is invaluable."
I wondered now that Margot is full-time and has worked with the program for 6 years, if the challenge of the job is wearing off. "Oh heavens no," Margot said, scoffing at my question, "There's so much challenge. It's Just like raising kids - the challenges grow with the child. The ones I'm recognizing and accepting now were always there back then I suppose, I just didn't quite notice they were there."
"The LCA is helping to plan a 2 week Summer Institute for literacy coordinators this summer through the University of Regina. If you had told me there was a summer program that I could take in literacy when I came on as a new coordinator in 1985 (during my much needed break from it all!) I would have gone screaming in the other direction. And now I can hardly wait to go."
Margot is also enjoying the challenges found in her work as a board member of the LCA and as a Resource Person for the Southwestern region of the province. "I never thought I'd do this much travelling. When I was with my babies it seemed that my husband was always going somewhere - off to a conference or a meeting - and I'd think, 'Someday I hope it's me who'll get to go.' And now when I'm asked to attend some meeting in Edmonton I say, 'Oh God, not again! Hotel food? Do we have to eat out again?' In what was such a poorly paid job, I never dreamed it would provide the opportunities it has."