Literacy Network

Literacy Network (LitNet), formerly Literacy Network of the Southern Berkshires, has been offering free, one-on-one tutoring sessions for adults since 1991. LitNet’s flexible, personalized approach to tutoring enables adult learners to succeed in their jobs, support their families, and engage with their local communities. The organization began by teaching reading skills, and LitNet quickly expanded its curriculum with lessons in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), citizenship test preparation, and adult basic education to better serve the large population of immigrants who live and work in the Berkshires.

According to the 2014 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, about 3,000 individuals in LitNet’s primary service area speak a language other than English at home. The need for high-quality English language instruction in the Berkshires continues to grow. The Berkshire Immigrant Center reports that Berkshire County has the most diverse immigrant population in the state, and a large, growing Latino population, second in the state only to Chicopee. Between 2009 and 2014, the number of South Berkshire residents who spoke a language other than English at home increased by about 30%