The Literacy Council

Several children at Lannom Library enjoyed a treat earlier this summer when local author Laura Joy Pewitt shared with them her recently published book WALLY, THE WAYWARD SEA TURTLE. The Literacy Council of Coffee County has donated a copy of her book to the library, as well as to every Kindergarten and first grade classroom in Coffee County.

SoKidLit — Rutherford Arts Alliance

https://www.rutherfordartsalliance.org/so-kid-lit

SoKidLit — Rutherford Arts Alliance The Southern Kid Literary Festival (SoKidLit) connects young readers grades 3-5 with professional authors and empowers children to see themselves as writers and illustrators. The primary goal of this free event is to develop and celebrate enthusiasm for current children’s literature, thereby advan...

Joses Jernigan, Kiwanis Club Secretary, presented Dot Watson and The Literacy Council, with a donation of funds made possible by proceeds from the 41A Music Festival.

Dot Watson, founder of The BOOK SHELF, a used bookstore, spoke on the importance of the Literacy Council which benefits Adult Education in Coffee County, and how The Book Shelf helps to fund it.

Let’s all support literacy!

ANNOUNCEMENT **********************

The BOOK SHELF in Northgate Mall is closing temporarily until further notice. We will announce the re-opening once we are settled. We cannot accept donations nor sell books at this time.

Thanks to our patrons for shopping with us, especially during this past year, and a special thank you to Northgate Mall for generously providing us with a space for our store. We will re-open as soon as possible in a different location.
We appreciate your patience during this time.

On Thursday, Sept 17, several representatives of the Tullahoma chapter of DAR recognized Constitution Week with a bell-ringing ceremony at 10 a.m. at City Hall. Mayor Ray Knowis and State Senator Janice Bowling also participated. Regent Emily Thoma presented Dot Watson with several state awards associated with literacy.

In 1990, the high school dropout rate for Dolly Parton's hometown of Sevierville Tennessee was at 34% (Research shows that most kids make up their minds in fifth/sixth grade not to graduate). That year, all fifth and sixth graders from Sevierville were invited by Parton to attend an assembly at Dollywood. They were asked to pick a buddy, and if both students completed high school, Dolly Parton would personally hand them each a $500 check on their graduation day. As a result, the dropout rate for those classes fell to 6%, and has generally retained that average to this day.

Shortly after the success of The Buddy Program, Parton learned in dealing with teachers from the school district that problems in education often begin during first grade when kids are at different developmental levels. That year The Dollywood Foundation paid the salaries for additional teachers assistants in every first grade class for the next 2 years, under the agreement that if the program worked, the school system would effectively adopt and fund the program after the trial period.

During the same period, Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995: The idea being that children from her rural hometown and low-income families often start school at a disadvantage and as a result, will be unfairly compared to their peers for the rest of their lives, effectively encouraging them not to pursue higher education. The objective of the Imagination library was that every child in Sevier County would receive one book, every month, mailed and addressed to the child, from the day they were born until the day they started kindergarten, 100% free of charge. What began as a hometown initiative now serves children in all 50 states, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, mailing thousands of free books to children around the world monthly.

On March 1, 2018 Parton donated her 100 millionth book at the Library of Congress: a copy of "Coat of Many Colors" dedicated to her father, who never learned to read or write.

-Erick Moore
January, 2020

The Literacy Council voted Monday to close The Book Shelf until March 30th as a precaution against the Coronavirus.

The council members will re-evaluate the situation on March 25th to allow time to make whatever adjustments need to be done to open or remain closed.

We want both our patrons and volunteers to be safe and wish only the best for everyone! Please take all precautions for your family’s health! We will keep you posted moving forward.

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Let the March winds blow you into

🍀 THE BOOK SHELF 🍀

to find a good read for those windy days
and Spring storms when you need to hunker
down and stay inside.

We have every genre imaginable!!!

Northgate Mall, Tullahoma

Monday-Saturday

931-842-0373

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Called meeting to discuss some important financial matters!

The new bookshelves in the Coffee County Jail are full of books already! The Highland Rim Woodworkers constructed them and the inmates painted them. The Literacy Council and The Book Shelf have been supportive of this project! The person who is acting as the librarian right now is doing a great job!

Just a friendly reminder of The Book Shelf’s donation guidelines!
“We want to be as accommodating as possible, but it comes down to space and salability of the items we accept! Thanks to our loyal customers, we have been able to contribute to The Literacy Council’s educational programs and the entire community!”

Linda Moss Mines, speaker at the September meeting of the Tullahoma DAR, was presented with a book that was purchased from The Book Shelf in Northgate Mall. A signed copy of Jacksonland by Steve Innskeep was an appropriate gift, as the theme of her speech was the Constitution and the book concerns a Constitutional crisis in our history. Ms Mines seemed thrilled with the well-chosen gift!

SO true!

On this extremely hot afternoon, the Storybook Trail at Lannom Library is deserted. When the weather turns a little cooler, stop by and read a children’s book one page at a time! This trail is a joint venture of the Literacy Council, the Coffee County Library, and the UT Extension Office.

I saw this on Facebook, and wanted to share the hard work and happy success of our counterparts in a neighboring county!

Today the Literacy Council held their quarterly meeting with a full agenda to cover.

Today at the quarterly meeting of the Council, Cat Murray of McMurr’s presented President Beth Christopher with a check from the proceeds of the Michael Jackson Tribute show held last month at South Jackson Civic Center. We appreciate her generosity in donating toward our support of adult education in Coffee County.

Literacy Council members attended HIStory Told by Her XIV - A Tribute to Michael Jackson, at South Jackson Civic Center last month.

The Literacy Council again this year hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast for all the wonderful Book Shelf workers. President Beth Christopher introduced those involved with the Adult Education program in our county - Teresa Smith, Scott Riddell, and Linda Maddox. We all enjoyed a talk by George Cruz, a graduate of the program, on the importance of passing a high school equivalency test, and obtaining a “piece of paper.”

The Storybook Trail, a joint venture of the Literacy Council, the Coffee County Library, and the UT Extension office, came a little closer to reality as several people worked today to put together the pages of the first two books. Many more volunteer hours will be needed to complete this undertaking. Belinda Letto is spearheading this project and appreciates all the people working to make this happen. Also pictured are Donna Rhoton, Marquita Masuda, and Sheila Seay. Not pictured is Gina Bumbalough, Health Services Coordinator for Tullahoma City Schools.

Happy Thanksgiving to our community of “life-long learners”!

Beth Christopher and Donna Rhoton, Literacy Council board members, set up a display and interacted with students and parents at the recent Family Literacy Night at East Lincoln Elementary. Spreading information about Adult Education classes in Coffee County is one of the main reasons our Council exists.

Last week The Literacy Council received a donation and note from Jeanna Reynolds at Smart Bank:

One of the best things parents can do for their children’s future is reading to them!

This week at the Tullahoma Chamber of Commerce monthly coffee, Dot Watson reminded the group that this year is the 30th anniversary of The Literacy Council.
Loretta Welsh, the founder and first chairman of the council, was recognized for her early contributions to furthering literacy and adult education in Coffee County. In addition, Northgate Mall was the first home of the council, so it was an appropriate place for the presentation.

Northgate Mall is the place to shop from now through the whole holiday season! The Book Shelf can be YOUR holiday season go-to, for gifts and decorations! Shop Local!

We are all SO proud of Johnnie Barnes!!! Today at the Chamber of Commerce coffee at Northgate Mall, she was presented with ” The Extra Miler Award” for her dedication to The Bookshelf as an outstanding volunteer!!! Congratulations, Johnnie!

Beth Christopher, the new president of the Literacy Council, reminds everyone to come to Northgate Mall and visit The BOOK SHELF and assist the council’s efforts in promoting adult basic education in Coffee County. (Photo from an article in the Tullahoma News).

At the October Chamber of Commerce membership coffee, co-sponsored by The Literacy Council and Woodard’s, Loretta Welsh will be recognized as the founder of the Council in Northgate Mall in 1988. (Photo from an article in the Tullahoma News).

Our adult education teachers in this area definitely embody this statement, Charlie Brown!!!

Truer words were never spoken...

Photos from The Literacy Council's post

The final activity of the day-long event for the group from Blue Monarch was Glow Golf in Northgate Mall!! A wonderful, fun day for all involved - the mothers, children, and volunteers who assisted along the way! Thanks to Chick-fil-A, McDonalds, the dulcimer musicians, the Tullahoma Fire Department, Glow Golf, Northgate Mall, and Dot Watson, Donna Rhoton, and the Literacy Council members!!

After lunch, the moms and kids from Blue Monarch were treated to an up-close look at a Tullahoma Fire/ Rescue truck, much to the delight of all!!!

Next on the agenda at Northgate Mall for the Blue Monarch group was choosing books at The Book Shelf, face painting, and lunch from McDonald’s provided by the council!