January 27,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Public Library has been awarded a $1,000 Literacy Grant from Vernon Library Supplies, Inc., for the Library’s “outstanding contribution towards helping new immigrants to America to achieve English proficiency and become productive, fulfilled members of their communities.”
The grant will support Ridgewood Library’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program, which today coordinates 49 volunteer tutors with 122 adult students representing 32 countries. Tutors offer individual sessions, conversation groups and classes that bring students together from such diverse countries as Syria, Japan, Brazil, Panama, Bangladesh, Turkey, New Caledonia and more.
The Friends of the Ridgewood Library is also a longtime supporter that helps produce the Library’s annual International Luncheon; ESL students contribute native dishes and all are honored for their year’s work by Ridgewood’s Mayor, Council and Library Board. This year’s event will be held on June 8, 2018.
The ESL community is also welcome on March 5, 2018, when the Library will host a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) program on “How to Become a U.S. Citizen,” 10am – noon.
For additional information, visit us on the web at www.ridgewoodlibrary.org or contact ESL Librarian Victoria Hilditch at vhilditch@ridgewoodlibrary.org or 201-670-5600 ext. 133.
