a BC Public Library Services - BC Ministry of Education

About Literacy

Community-led literacy programs support communities to build community networks, partnerships and relationships to enhance local literacy programming.  Community literacy programs are about engaging community partners and giving them the tools to identify their own literacy needs, opportunities and programs and for building capacity throughout British Columbia.  For more information see the UBC 2010 report on community literacy planning.

Literacy is more than just reading and writing. It’s a key strategy which can help solve fundamental societal issues and economic challenges. At all stages of our lives, literacy is essentially about decoding information, events and situations so we can succeed and prosper. Now, more than ever before, literacy is all about making sense of the modern world. (From Decoda Literacy Solutions)

ReadNow BC 2007-2011

Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning. Higher levels of literacy contribute to better social and economic outcomes for individuals and society. Recognizing this, in January 2007 Government launched ReadNow BC, the provincial literacy action plan, to raise awareness and enable coordination of literacy programs and services in communities. Five years later, the profile of literacy in BC has increased significantly. For many British Columbians, it is now the key to lifelong learning. Please see ReadNow BC's Final Report (PDF, 2.74MB) for a summary of the provincial literacy action plan.

The Province is calling for nominations for the 2012 Council of the Federation Literacy Award.

The annual Council of the Federation Literacy Award recognizes outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy. This year British Columbia will present the award to an organization that, through partnerships and collaborations, demonstrates excellence in providing or developing literacy programs, services, or projects that benefit learners.

  • 2012 Call for Nominations and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 553KB)
  • Nomination Form (DOCX, 119KB)
    New for 2012! Nominations are to be sent electronically via email to llb@gov.bc.ca

The deadline for nominations is May 31, 2012, so don’t delay! For more information, contact llb@gov.bc.ca.