Adult Literacy Center

ESL Materials and Services

As part of the Polk County Public Library's Basic Literacy program, a collection of English as a Second Language materials has been developed within the Adult Literacy Center. This collection is made up of computer software, audio tapes, videotapes, ESL workbooks, and supplemental readers specifically written for new English speakers. Tutors from the Polk County Literacy Council and the Polk County Campus of Isothermal Community College's ESL program come to the Library on a weekly basis to use the ESL software and other literacy software, which includes software from the ELLIS system, as well as a number of programs specific to Spanish speakers learning English for the first time. While most of Polk County's ESL students are Hispanic, the Library's ESL collection includes some materials for speakers of other languages as well, and will continue to include materials relevant to whatever languages are represented among the county's identified ESL students. The collection also includes a video instruction series from New Reader's Press for tutors of ESL students. Library staff actively participate in collaborative community efforts to address the needs of ESL students and all persons living in Polk County for whom English is not their first language.