The NHFPL is dedicated to improving lives by promoting basic and 21st Century literacy skills and advancing New Haven as a city that reads. Literacy is essential for social, economic, and personal development throughout one’s life and the proven benefits of literacy include improved health, self-esteem, and prosperity. 21st Century literacy skills are those needed to effectively navigate our fast-paced digital environment. We welcome the public to explore our resources for lifelong learning and to seek out librarians for advice.
Connecticut state law requires that all towns provide free GED, Citizenship, and English (ESOL) classes to all residents through their adult education systems. If you are not a New Haven resident, check with adult education in your town. Registration and class information for New Haven ESOL classes can be found at New Haven Adult Education ESOL.
Free math tutoring for adults only is provided by Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. Tutors will help with all levels of math from a review of basic mathematics to high school math up to and including calculus. Contact Laura Fawcett at (203) 776-5899 or email at [email protected] to schedule an appointment. Students under 18 seeking math tutors may contact New Haven Reads at (203) 752-1923.
Reading Center Services and Topics
NHFPL offers many resources for practicing and improving literacy skills in our collection and online. Our Reading Center Collection is located near the Information Desk on the first floor of the Ives Main Library.
Online Resources for Students and Teachers
Resources for students
 | DuoLingo A widely used free app/website for English learning that makes daily practice fun. Duolingo has English learning options for speakers of 21 non-English languages: https://www.duolingo.com/ |
 | USA Learns Free downloadable apps for English vocabulary and pronunciation practice: https://www.usalearns.org/apps and complete English language instruction https://www.usalearns.org/ |
 | The Times in Plain English An edition of The New York Times written especially for new English Speakers: https://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/ |
| ESL Bits A great way to learn English is to read and sing along with our songs! http://esl-bits.net/Songs.for.English.Language.Learning/Songs.for.English.Language.Learning.html |
Resources for Educators and Tutors
Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven- New Haven’s largest literacy instruction organization has compiled a comprehensive list of online resources for reading, writing, math, and life skills instruction. Contact them for any and all questions about becoming or finding a literacy tutor:
https://lvagnhbasic.weebly.com/reading.html
New American Horizons Foundation– A thorough, inspiring set of training videos detailing how to teach new English Speakers:
https://www.newamericanhorizons.org/
United States Citizenship
United States Government Citizenship and Immigration Services– Thorough and authoritative, this is the best resource for becoming an American citizen:
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship
Other Literacies
Additionally, the Connecticut Division of Library Development supports public, school, and academic librarians with information, resources, and training in the follow areas, which are considered key literacies:
Partner Links
Literacy Coalition of Greater New Haven
New Haven Reads
New Haven Adult and Continuing Education Center
Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven
Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services
Get Connected
Check out our Community Resources page for a full list of nearby organizations.