Washington, DC; September 8, 2004 - The National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) announced yesterday the launch of the newly redesigned America's Literacy Directory (ALD) website <http://www.literacydirectory.org> offering end-users an upgraded experience to quickly find reading, writing, math, English as a Second Language, skills assessment, basic technology skills, learning disability contacts, volunteer opportunities and much, much more. 

America's Literacy Directory (ALD) is a national directory of literacy service providers available via the Internet and the National Institute for Literacy's toll-free number. The ALD connects employers, learners, volunteers, social service agencies, and others to current information about literacy service providers in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. 

For more information on the new features and how ALD can work for you, go to:  http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/ald_update.html

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			NEW FEATURES

FOR GENERAL USERS
-	Learners of all ages will have increased access to information about 	literacy and after school programs 
		-  To get help for: Reading, Writing, Math, Homework. 
		-  To get information about GED programs and test centers. 
		-  To get information about Learning Disabilities and English as a 			second Language programs.
-	Employers will have the capability to locate basic skills program for 	their employees. 
-	Access to more volunteer opportunity types.

FOR LOCAL LITERACY PROVIDERS
-	Ability to update, change or add program information. 
-	New section that includes Programs for Employers.

FOR STATES AND ORGANIZATIONS
-	Ability to control and manage service providers within state, including: 
-	Ability to approve new programs and update program information. 
-	Capability to retrieve data as an Excel report for targeted mail merges 	or for use with multiple program levels or 	print service provider 	directory. 
-	Ability to add State-defined customized fields. 
-	Sophisticated user management tool to delegate tasks to multiple 	administrator levels or other types of administrators, as needed. 
-	Automated address validation to verify data.

ALD users can access a more powerful and functionally enhanced website at www.literacydirectory.org <http://www.literacydirectory.org> immediately to begin searching for a literacy program near you.

For more information, contact Jaleh Behroozi: mailto:jbehroozi at nifl.gov or Mary Jo Maralit mmaralit at nifl.gov, or call 202-233-2025.

Jaleh Behroozi Soroui
National LINCS Director
National Institute for Literacy
1775 I street, Suite 730
Washington DC, 20006
Phone: 202/233-2039
FAX:   202/233-2050

www.nifl.gov/lincs