Whether the adults want to get a better job, read recipes, or help children with homework, the Mid-State Literacy Council, 234 E. Calder Way, helps them improve their literacy skills.

"Basically, we are trying to promote literacy in Centre County. It is an odd thing for people to realize that in a university community right outside of Penn State, people are illiterate," CEO Monica Mathews said.

Mathews explained that illiteracy can be generational, an accepted lifestyle of not valuing reading.

"People take reading for granted; it is an unconscious thing, from reading billboards to milk cartons," she said.

The Mid-State Literacy Council divides its students into two categories, the Adult Basic Literacy Program, referred to as the Basic Program, and the English as a Second Language Program, or ESL.

Basic Program Director Deborah Tate said her program serves a variety of adult learners.

Most have specific goals in mind, such as getting a GED or finding employment, Tate said. Although the Basic students have managed without fundamental literacy skills, they still need help because their "lives may be compromised due to illiteracy," she said.

The Basic Program might also assist those who suffer from cognitive impairments or are developmentally disabled. It also provides career links to help students who are seeking jobs.

The 30-year-old non-profit organization has grown through grants and funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Centre County United Way. The council provides one-on-one tutoring that other literacy agencies do not offer.

Besides the State College branch, councils in Philipsburg and Clearfield County also offer services.

Tate recalls a time when the Mid-State Literacy Council received a grant from the Penn State Literacy Corps. In exchange for classwork and exams, 32 students from human development courses signed up as Basic Program volunteer tutors.

"The drive to help grew to beyond getting out of classes," Tate said.

The ESL program is geared toward non-native English speakers. Most of them recently came to the United States to find better jobs or to be with relatives. Many of the ESL students were highly educated and had careers in their native countries.

Kevin Hulburt, ESL co-director, said the adult learners come from primarily Asian and Russian backgrounds and their objectives include practical survival skills like trips to the doctor and grocery shopping. More advanced students focus on the grammatical details of the English language, he said.

The State College branch also offers civics classes for ESL participants to teach about the U.S. government because many of the participants need preparation for citizenship tests.

Volunteers in the program are asked to make a commitment of one session per week for an hour or two and must complete a mandatory training session, Tate said. Tutors for the ESL program do not need to speak another language to volunteer, she said.

"We rely largely on Penn State volunteers," Tate said. Last year the council served more than 400 adults with 150 tutors, so there is always need for volunteers, she added.

To contact the Mid-State Literacy Council, visit www.mid-stateliteracycouncil.org.