Office for Literacy and Outreach Services
50 E. Huron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2795
(800) 545-2433 ext. 4294
Fax: 312-280-3256
Email: olos@ala.org
Mission
The Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) serves the Association by identifying and promoting library services that support equitable access to the knowledge and information stored in our libraries. OLOS focuses attention on services that are inclusive of traditionally underserved populations, including new and non-readers, people geographically isolated, people with disabilities, rural and urban poor people, and people generally discriminated against based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, language and social class. The Office ensures that training, information resources, and technical assistance are available to help libraries and librarians develop effective strategies to develop programs and service for new users.
OLOS provides resources to library and information workers who serve traditionally underrepresented groups. Our outreach areas include:
- Adult New and Non-Readers
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender People
- Incarcerated People and Ex-Offenders
- Older Adults
- People of Color
- People with Disabilities
- Poor and Homeless People
- Rural, Native, and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds
- Bookmobile Communities
Visit our Outreach Columns blog for stories from our members!
Oversight Groups & Meeting Schedules
Committees
- Subcommittee on Bookmobiles
- Subcommittee on Library Services to Native Americans
- Subcommittee on Library Services to the Poor and Homeless
- Subcommittee on Older Adults
- Subcommittee on Dr. Jean E. Coleman Lecture
- Subcommittee on the Diversity and Outreach Fair
- Literacy Assembly
- Literacy in Action Subcommittee
- Literacy Providers Subcommittee
- Program Subcommittee
Committee on Rural, Native, and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds
Roundtables and Associations
Events
Popular Resources
OLOS Toolkits
- The American Dream Starts @ your library
- The Librarian's Guide to Gaming
- Handbook for Mobile Services Staff
- How to Serve the World @ your library
- Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library
- The Small is Powerful Toolkit for Winning Support for your Rural Library
- Guide to Building Support for your Tribal Library
- TRAILS - Tribal Library Procedure Manual 3rd Edition 2008
Links
Staff
Miguel A. Figueroa
Director, Office for Diversity & Spectrum
Acting Director, Office for Literacy and Outreach Services
800-545-2433, ext. 5295
mfigueroa@ala.org
Adminstrative oversight of the Office, its programs, services, and intiatives; manages budget and policy matters; responds to advisory questions on outreach services.
Dale P. Lipschultz
Literacy Officer
800-545-2433, ext. 3275
dlipschultz@ala.org
Manages OLOS adult literacy projects and online resources; facilitates literacy-related discussions across library types; directs ALA’s Libraries, Literacy, and Gaming Initiative; assists with ALA’s National Gaming Day @ your library; staff liaison to: Committee on Literacy, Literacy Assembly, Games & Gaming Member Initiative Group, President Camila Alire, Ethnic Affiliates Family Literacy Focus; and represents ALA on the National Coalition for Literacy and Media Mashup, an IMLS funded Nation of Leaders Demonstration Grant.
John Amundsen
Communications Specialist
800-545-2433, ext. 2140
jamundsen@ala.org
Administers OLOS communication efforts including OLOS Web pages, ALA Connect communities, blogs, and social networking tools; develops resources and promotional materials; shares in OLOS liaison responsibilities; plans special events including the ALA Diversity Fair, National Bookmobile Day, and the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast.
Elliot Mandel
Program Coordinator
800-545-2433, ext. 4297
emandel@ala.org
Manages OLOS office; coordinates conference programs on behalf of: OLOS Advisory Committee, Committee on Rural, Native, and Tribal Libraries of all kinds, Committee on Literacy, Ethnic Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT), Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Round Table (GLBTRT), Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS), Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL); and Administers Coretta Scott King Book Awards and Breakfast.
The American Dream Starts @ your library
Resources and information for serving English language learners from the American Dream Starts @ your library, a grant initative from ALA and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.OLOS on Delicious
Interested in more resources? See OLOS’s annotated list of resources on Delicious.Recent Outreach Columns
- Educational video game challenge now open for entries
- 2011 Virtual Diversity & Outreach Fair
- Do We Have the Will to Help Guide the Digital Natives?
- A Lifetime Literacy at the Library: Marking the Milestones from Infancy to Maturity
- James Bartleman, Noted Canadian Diplomat and Author, To Speak on Youth, Literacy and Libraries
OLOS News
- Small but powerful forum to discuss rural library advocacy
- Free webinar shares tips for building support for rural libraries
- Bookmobile and outreach conference celebrates and advances essential library services
- Newly revised toolkit helps rural libraries win big support from their communities
- ARSL Conference to focus on positive growth of America’s rural and small libraries