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It's never too late to learn how to read

Since 1991, OC Read has offered adult literacy tutoring and programming for Orange County residents seeking to improve their reading, writing, or English literacy skills. OC Read services are available for non-ESL and ESL learners 16 years of age or older.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, visit the Tutors page to see current volunteer descriptions and opportunities.

For more information about how to enroll as a learner, visit the Learners page, call 714-566-3070, or email readoc@occr.ocgov.com.

Why Literacy Matters

59 million adults in the U.S. have literacy skills at or below a PIAAC Level 1—the lowest level. For perspective, there are roughly 260-275 million adults in the U.S. This means about 21% read at or below Level 1. Proficiency is considered Level 3, the equivalent of 7th-8th grade reading skills.

1 in 4 adults in Orange County read below the 8th grade level
16% of adults in Orange County do not have a high school diploma
Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72% chance of being at the lowest reading levels
Increasing a person's literacy skills to Level 2 makes it 50% less likely they will live in poverty

PIAAC measures, analyzes, and compares adults’ foundational skills of literacy. It considers cognitive and workplace skills needed to participate in society and for economies to prosper.

Summer Family Literacy Day 2024 - welcome table — _C9A8045.jpg

OC Read Day is one of the many programs we offer to support family literacy development.

Core Services

Adult Literacy Services

OC Read offers literacy support through tutoring and workshops. These services cover a range of literacy skill development for both native and non-native English speakers. Visit the Learners page for more information.

Family Literacy Services

Family Literacy Services provides educational programs for learners and their family members of all ages. These programs create practical, real-world literacy learning experiences. Visit the Learners page for further details.

ESL Referrals

OC Read offers personalized assistance locating low-cost and no-cost programs throughout the county. Patrons seeking referral services should call or email OC Read.

Explore the OC Read website to learn more about literacy services. Or call 714-566-3070 to speak with a librarian. The office can be reached Monday through Saturday during library business hours.

Visit the Tutors page to learn about the volunteer requirements and opportunities available through OC Read.

Call 714-566-3070, or email readoc@occ.ocgov.com. Short service descriptions are available on the Learners page.

Yes. We have tutoring for both ESL and non-ESL learners. Visit the Learners page or call 714-566-3070 for more information.

No, tutoring is only for adults. However, some of our family literacy programs may be helpful for children struggling with reading. We also can help parents and caregivers get started with BrainFuse HelpNow, a free, live, online tutoring service offered through the library which can help children with any school subject, including reading. Call or email us for assistance.

📧 Email: readoc@occr.ocgov.com
📞 Call: 714-566-3070

All services and programming are free.

OC Read

It's never too late to learn how to read

Why Literacy Matters

Adult Literacy Services

Family Literacy Services

ESL Referrals

Explore the OC Read website to learn more about literacy services. Or call 714-566-3070 to speak with a librarian. The office can be reached Monday through Saturday during library business hours.

add remove Heading How do I volunteer?

add remove Heading How do I become a learner?

add remove Heading Do you have tutoring for ESL / non-ESL learners?

add remove Heading Do you have tutoring for children?

add remove Heading How much does tutoring cost?