The DeKalb Library Foundation has established a Literacy Program Endowment to permanently support DeKalb County Public Library family literacy programs for underserved adults and children in our community.

Since December 2007, the Foundation has raised $110,000 towards a goal of $125,000 for this Endowment. Upon reaching this goal, the Fitzgerald Foundation will award a $125,000 matching challenge grant for the Literacy Program Endowment. The DeKalb Library Foundation seeks support in the DeKalb community to raise the remaining $15,000 of the $125,000 goal by a new deadline of December 31, 2009. Your investment will be matched dollar for dollar when this grant is awarded!

Make your gift to the Literacy Endowment Campaign

Please add your support for literacy by donating online or mail a check payable to the DeKalb Library Foundation, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur, GA, 30030. For more information about how you can help, call Donna Brazzell at 404-370-8450 ext. 2238, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you for your support and commitment to building a more educated and literate community.

DeKalb County Public Library Literacy Programs

The DeKalb County Public Library provides family literacy services in DeKalb communities with the most critical needs. These family literacy programs develop emerging literacy and language skills in underserved adults and children in our community, benefiting immigrants, refugees, the homeless, students, and low income new parents and babies. These crucial programs promote reading readiness for children, encourage family reading, and increase adult literacy levels and language skills. For more about these literacy programs, see the Spring 2009 Newsletter or the Literacy Services page.

• Project REAP (Reading Empowers All People) - an innovative program teaching immigrant and refugee families basic English skills.
• Project Horizon - family literacy program for children at homeless and transitional housing shelters and a daycare center.
• Family Reader's Club - collaborative program with DeKalb Medical Center and Prevent Child Abuse Georgia providing children's books for low income new parents and teen mothers to educate them about the importance of reading to their children beginning at birth.
• Scottdale-Tobie Grant Homework Center - provides reading and homework assistance for school-age children.

As these citizens become more literate, the DeKalb County Public Library provides an ideal gateway for their continued learning experiences offering English as a Second Language (ESL); adult learning and computer classes; plus a special learning collection to support literacy.