National Adult Literacy Database

The research project described in this document was part of the first phase of a larger initiative entitled “Connecting Literacy to Community” (CLC), undertaken by Bow Valley College in Alberta.

This project investigated the literacy assets and barriers of 10 community agencies in three urban and three rural Alberta communities. The project helped agencies to identify specific literacy barriers, and to begin to either minimize or remove those barriers.

A literacy specialist was assigned to each of the communities. The specialists acted as catalysts for literacy awareness; identified, investigated, and assessed literacy assets and barriers; and consulted on improving print materials or verbal communications.

The first step was to identify literacy assets and barriers in each agency, and develop an action plan with specific goals and objectives to resolve those barriers. The second step involved follow-up activities intended to examine the changes that had taken place in each agency since the first stage.