The Family Literacy Lounge

Adult literacy

Central LA

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Many Los Angeles families face limited access to literacy support, especially in homes where English is not the primary language. This affects both children and adults—students fall behind in school, while adults face barriers to jobs, civic life, and helping their children learn. NAEP data shows two-thirds of U.S. students aren’t reading on grade level, and over 20% of adults are functionally illiterate. Low literacy is tied to poor health, limited opportunity, and long-term strain on families and communities. Libraries are underused yet vital family learning hubs. The California School Dashboard shows LA students still need multi-layered support to meet literacy and language goals. To meet this need, innovative strategies must be employed. By creating inclusive, intergenerational literacy spaces in public libraries, Read With Me meaningfully aides in the existing efforts to close the literacy gap for children and adults to build stronger families and communities in Los Angeles.

Read With Me will pilot its program at the Felipe de Neve Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), partnering with library staff to create a Family Literacy Lounge—a welcoming, dedicated space designed to support multigenerational learning. The grant will fund furniture, books, and materials that make the space inviting and functional for both children and adults.
The program will provide one-on-one and small group tutoring in reading, writing, and English language development, including speaking and listening skills. Parents and caregivers will also receive guidance to better understand school policies, support learning at home, and actively participate in their children’s education. Special attention will be given to helping families navigate the LA public school system and become confident advocates for their children.
Read With Me is designed to complement—not duplicate—existing LAPL literacy and language programs. It builds on the library’s trusted role in the community by enhancing access to services through a family-centered model. The program ensures that resources are aligned, collaborative, and responsive to community needs. By offering inclusive, intergenerational learning opportunities, Read With Me will strengthen literacy at home and reinforce the public library’s mission to empower, enrich, and promote lifelong learning across Los Angeles.

When successful, Read With Me will increase family literacy, strengthen parent engagement, and improve literacy outcomes for students and adults across Los Angeles. Families will access Read With Me’s Family Literacy Lounges, dedicated spaces for learning together, receive personalized tutoring, and build confidence as readers and lifelong learners. Over time, libraries will become trusted hubs for community learning. We believe that the program will serve as a scalable model for other LAPL branches and foster even more connections and collaboration with community based organizations, LA school and city officials to bolster literacy outcomes for children and adults. By strengthening family literacy, children’s academic success will grow through increased parent support, and adults will gain English language skills and literacy skills that improve employment, civic participation, and health outcomes. These changes benefit families and communities across our city.