It isn’t every day that a talented songwriter walks into a literacy program office and says that she'd like to raise awareness and money for adult literacy programs. But that is exactly what happened in late 1999 when Deborah Pardes paid a visit to Project Read. On that day Deborah was full of questions about adult literacy programs: how we are funded and how we build visibility in the community. She described how she became interested in the issue of adult literacy.
     In December 1999, Deborah wrote a song called “7th Step,” which was inspired by Frank McCourt’s memoir, Angela’s Ashes. When she appeared on a live radio program discussing the song and its inspiration, she was surprised by the number of listeners who called the radio station wanting to learn more about the book.
      “It suddenly occurred to me,” said Deborah, “that by hearing a song, a person might be motivated to read a book. This was very exciting, so I began to research the facts about adult literacy. When I discovered just how many people struggle with the ability to read, I decided to put my music experience to good use. Musicians had championed world problems from issues of hunger to homelessness. Literacy needed the magic of song too.”
      In 2000, Deborah launched The SIBL Project, a non-profit organization designed to promote literacy by connecting musicians and authors through a series of songwriting contests, CD releases, and events to raise awareness for the cause. The California State Library, in recognition of the potential of this innovative way to promote reading, provided initial funding.
     Now just over two years later, The SIBL (Songs Inspired By Literature) Project has just released SIBL Chapter One - the first annual benefit CD to raise awareness and funds for adult literacy programs. Chapter One features songs inspired by literature (SIBLs) written by world class artists: Bruce Springsteen, Suzanne Vega, Ray Manzarek, Grace Slick and Aimee Mann. It also includes 10 winning songs from an international songwriting competition in which over 350 songwriters from 38 states and 10 countries entered their own SIBLs.
     The SIBL Chapter One CD is available for purchase for $10 at the Book Bays at the Main and at Fort Mason, both operated by the Friends & Foundation of the Library. The CD can also be purchased online. You may even want to order a 16 CD display box and sell them at your company, church or retail outlet. Proceeds from the sale of SIBL Chapter One help support Bay Area Literacy (a consortium of 25 library-based literacy programs) and the KQED Educational Network Adult Learning Project.