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Adult Literacy Services Grant for 1997 The Troy Public Library is very pleased to announce that it has been awarded an Adult Literacy Services Grant for 1997 from the State Education Department, Division for Library Development. The grant, in the amount of $20,000, will fund a joint literacy project sponsored by the library, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County and Literacy Volunteers of America-Troy Area, Inc. "This year, the Division for Library Development received 36 applications from public libraries requesting over $475,000 for adult literacy programs. The current appropriation is only $185,000, making this grant process highly competitive," explained Paul Hicok, Director of the Troy Public Library. The project involves adult literacy, nutrition education and financial counseling. In-home nutrition education and financial counseling are currently taught by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. David Hawley, Director of Cooperative Extension explained that "often the same clients who need improved nutrition and credit counseling are also at a reduced level of adult literacy." Funding to provide additional resources for adult literacy is not provided through USDA channels. This project would train the in-home teachers in adult literacy and provide increased funds for adult literacy instruction to the people who need assistance. "The benefits of this program will be far-reaching, providing improved nutrition, literacy and computer skills for the Nutrition Program clients," said Donna Gibson, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of America-Troy Area, Inc. "Clients' families will reap benefits of a healthier, more secure lifestyle." The literacy Volunteers of America of Troy, Inc. will provide the training in adult literacy instruction, teaching materials and guidance. The Troy Public Library will provide needed local meeting space, store adult literacy print material, provide space for a computer with adult literacy software and will coordinate the project. By Paul Hicok In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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