Thumbs up: Read this — and celebrate that you can

Libraries are in the business of encouraging literacy. For the past three decades, the local library system has also been in the business of ensuring it. This thumbs up goes to the Sonoma County Library Adult Literacy program, which will be celebrating its 30th anniversary Saturday with a special program at 5 p.m. at the central library in Santa Rosa.

According to the Department of Justice, nearly one in five Americans are unable to perform at the most basic reading levels, and because of that they are at greater risk of not just academic failure but delinquency, violence and crime. Making matters worse, the options for low-income adults to learn to read and/or improve comprehension are limited. Kudos to this literacy program and to the many volunteers who make it happen. It’s one more reason voters should give a thumbs up to Measure Y on Nov. 8 - to give local libraries and programs like this a needed funding boost.