There are an estimated 30 million people over the age of 16 who read no better than the average school child.

Worldwide, nearly 800 million adults are illiterate in their native languages: two-thirds of them are women. The ability to read and write is the basis for all other education. Literacy is necessary for an individual to understand information, whether it be written or verbal. Literacy is important to the eradication of poverty, to lowering infant mortality rates and gender equality.

Without literacy skills, today’s adults struggle to access the use of technology and perform basic functions.

Adults without literacy skills struggle just to take part in our world and fail to meet their potential as parents, community members and employees.

Adults need strong literacy skills to raise children who will have strong literacy skills. Reading begins long before a child starts school. It begins when parents read to them, buy them books and encourages the children to read. Research is clear: parents who are poor readers don't read as often to their children.

Parents who are strong readers read to their children. Children who are not read to enter school less prepared for learning to read than other students.

Adults need strong literacy skills to be good employees. Workers must be able to read safety regulations and warnings so that all the employees will be safe. Many workplaces require you to work as a team. When you are a team you must be able to communicate clearly with one another.

Adults need strong literacy skills to keep themselves and their families healthy. Understanding doctors’ orders, reading prescriptions and knowing how much medicine to give children are all ways adults can keep themselves and their family healthy. Million of adults lack these basic healthy literacy skills. This lack of knowledge of healthy literacy skills adds an estimated $230 billion a year to the cost of health care in the U.S.

Adults need strong literacy skills to be active in their communities. As the time approaches to elect a new president the nation depends on informed voters.

How can a person be an informed voter if they cannot read the newspaper coverage or access the written campaign literature?

The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy, conducted by the U.S. Department of Education showed that low literate adults are less likely to vote than strong readers, but become more active in their communities as their reading and writing skills improve.

Adults need strong literacy skills to advocate for themselves and avoid human rights abuse.

People must be aware of their rights in order to assert them. Literacy gives them the avenue to get this information. Literacy also plays a significant role in reducing gender inequality.

Adults need strong literacy skills to avoid crime. There is a clear correlation between adult illiteracy and crime. More than 45 percent of all inmates in local jails, 40 percent in state facilities, and 27 percent in federal corrections institutions did not graduate from high school.

If you know of someone who is struggling with any of these issues let them know that there is help. They can contact the Adult Literacy Office at the Muskogee Public Library. The literacy office is located on the second floor with office hours from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Call the office at 682-6657, Ext. 246, to schedule an appointment or leave a message.