State Library and Archives of Florida Library Literacy Site

Adult Learner Stories from Florida's Public Libraries

OPEN BOOKS ~ OPEN MINDS
A COLLECTION OF ADULT LEARNER WRITINGS FROM FLORIDA

The Open Books ~ Open Minds book was designed to give adult learners the opportunity to build confidence while also improving their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Adult learners enrolled in adult education, literacy and ESOL programs from throughout Florida were encouraged to submit original short stories, poems, or autobiographical narratives.

The following four stories are a sample of the work created by the adult learners in library-based literacy programs. You can view the story in Microsoft Word or in Adobe PDF format. Audio versions of the stories are also available.
Click here to download Adobe Reader to view PDF files or here to download Real Player for the audio component.

For information about the Open Books ~ Open Minds book, please contact the Florida Literacy Coalition.

"Struggle"	"A Life Without Reading: A Need to Read"	"My Childhood"	"Our Brilliant Holiday in North Carolina"
Linda Pummel	Stanford Bowers	Jerry Rivers	Yoshiko Holleran
Palm Beach County Library Adult Literacy Project	Palm Beach County Library Adult Literacy Project	Palm Beach County Library Adult Literacy Project	Columbia County Public Library
Microsoft Word Version	Microsoft Word Version	Microsoft Word Version	Microsoft Word Version
Adobe PDF Version	Adobe PDF Version	Adobe PDF Version	Adobe PDF Version
Hear the Story	Hear the Story	Hear the Story	Hear the Story

This program has been funded in part under the provisions of the Florida Services and Technology Act from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services, administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.