For nearly 30 years, the Elaine Bacon Literacy Program has been pairing non-readers with volunteer tutors. For the last decade, however, most students in the program have been internationals affiliated with Michigan Technological University through educational or family ties.

Originally the program used the Laubach method, begun in 1930 by missionary Frank C. Laubach in a remote province of the Philippines. We still use the Laubach teaching materials, but through support from local service clubs, businesses, and private donations, our library has expanded considerably. The Oxford Picture Dictionary and the book English for Everyday Activities are two of our most popular and useful resources. Besides these, there are many books with tapes available, including materials to prepare those who wish to take the Test of English for Speakers of Foreign Languages (TOEFL), a test widely required of non-native speakers wishing to enroll at American universities and colleges.

The Portage Lake District Library in Houghton provides space for our materials. These materials, however, can be checked out only to tutors, who in turn can make them available to their students.

The program is made up of volunteer tutors, and takes its name from its originator, Elaine Bacon. After being taught the Laubach method, in the mid-1970's, she designed the program and trained tutors. In the autumn of 2001 there were 37 tutors helping 46 students.