Language & Literacy Resources for Multilingual Families
đź§How to Use this Guide
This guide connects families to free or low-cost programs that support:
- Reading and writing (literacy)
- Learning English
- Maintaining and strengthening home languages
Resources are organized by county. Many programs are available to both children and adults.
You may contact programs directly. Interpretation or translated materials may be available.
Disclaimer
We strive to keep this information accurate and up to date; however, programs and details may change. This is not a complete list of all possible resources. Please reach out to providers directly to confirm information.
(Last updated: 5/5/26)
What are we missing?
Help us make this guide stronger. Share resources from your community by emailing us at: tammy.diaz@questar.org.Â
Please include the program name, location, and any contact or website information you might have.
đź’» ONLINE & DIGITAL RESOURCES (ALL REGIONS) đź’»
📚 K–12 Literacy (Free)
- Unite for Literacy — Free digital books with audio in many languages for childrenÂ
- Storyline Online — Videos of stories read aloud by actors
- PBS LearningMedia — Free educational videos and activities for students
🌍 Home Language & Bilingual Literacy
- Worldreader BookSmart — Digital books in many languages for children and familiesÂ
- International Children’s Digital Library — Free online children’s books from around the worldÂ
- ColorĂn Colorado —Literacy tips and resources for Spanish-speaking families
- Global Storybooks Portal — Free multilingual stories for reading and learningÂ
- Bloom Library — Free books in many languages for childrenÂ
- World Stories — Free ebooks in 36+ languages for children
🧑‍🏫 Adult Literacy & Family Learning
- Literacy New York — Free adult literacy and English learning programs across NYS
- ProLiteracy Online Learning — Free tools for adult reading, writing, and English learning
🗣️ Language Learning (Adults & Students)
- USA Learns — Free online English classes for adultsÂ
- Duolingo — Free language learning app for many languagesÂ
- Mango Languages — Online language courses (often available free through libraries)Â
- BBC Learning English — Free lessons to learn and practice English
🏫 NYS-Specific Family Resources
- NYS Multilingual Learner Parent Resources — Translated guides about school programs and rightsÂ
Literacy đź“–
- Literacy Volunteers Capital Region — Free tutoring for reading, writing, and EnglishÂ
- Albany Literacy Zone / Family Welcome Centers — Family support services, literacy, and education helpÂ
- Jewish Coalition for Literacy — Volunteer tutoring for children in reading
Both đź“š
- Public libraries — Free books, internet, and community programsÂ
- Albany Public Library (all branches) — ESL classes, multilingual books, and family programs
- Literacy New York – Greater Capital Region — Adult literacy and English conversation groupsÂ
- Trinity Alliance & Capital South Campus Center — ESL classes and family support servicesÂ
- Capital Region BOCES Adult Education Programs — Free English classes, GED, and workforce programs
Language 🌎
- RISSE (Refugee & Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus) — Family support, tutoring, and programs for immigrants and refugeesÂ
- New York State Office For New Americans Opportunity Center (ONA) USCRI Albany — English classes and support for new AmericansÂ
- Capital Region Language Center — Classes in many world languagesÂ
- Capital Region BOCES — English language instruction for adultsÂ
- Empire State English — Language classes and tutoringÂ
- The Language Learning Institute
- Telugu Badi Albany — Online Telugu language classes for children and familiesÂ
- Chinese Community Center of Capital District of New York — Chinese language school and cultural programsÂ
- Masjid As-Salam — Arabic language classes and community programs
- Al-Hidaya Center — Religious and language learning programsÂ
- Tamil Padasalai School — Tamil language and cultural educationÂ
-
Calvary United Methodist Church — Free English tutoring program
Literacy đź“–
- Plattsburgh Public Library — Literacy programs and conversation groups
Both đź“š
- Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System — Library services across the regionÂ
- Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES Adult Education ESL, literacy, and job readiness programsÂ
- Literacy Volunteers of Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties — Free adult tutoringÂ
- Literacy of Northern New York — Adult literacy and English learning supportÂ
- OneWorkSource (Plattsburgh) — Job training and English learning support
Language 🌎
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Young Adults Education for Success — Education and career support for young adults (18–21)Â
- Literacy Voyage Program — Early literacy support for young childrenÂ
- Talk, Read, Sing: Columbia — Programs to build early language skills (birth–5)
- Columbia County Libraries — Free books, programs, and internet accessÂ
- Hudson Area Library — ESL conversation and adult learning programsÂ
- Columbia-Greene Community College — Adult education and English classesÂ
- Questar III Adult Education programs — Literacy, ESL, and workforce trainingÂ
- Literacy Connections of the Hudson Valley — Adult literacy and tutoringÂ
- Family Literacy Program at Family Resource Center of Columbia County — Family literacy support
- Columbia County Sanctuary Movement — Interpretation and immigrant support
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Champlain Valley BOCES Adult Education — ESL and literacy programs
- Essex County Public Libraries — Literacy programs and multilingual materialsÂ
- Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System — Regional library servicesÂ
- Literacy Volunteers of Clinton, Essex, and Franklin — Adult literacy tutoringÂ
- Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES Adult Education — ESL and job readinessÂ
- Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES Adult Education Programs — English classes and literacy support
- Malone OneWorkSource/ Literacy Zone — Family literacy and job training
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System — Library services and resourcesÂ
- Literacy Volunteers of Clinton, Essex, and Franklin — Adult literacy tutoringÂ
- Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES Adult Education Programs — ESL and literacy programsÂ
- OneWorkSource/Literacy Zone — English learning and job readiness
Literacy đź“–
- Gloversville Literacy Zone: Facebook page — Family literacy and support services
Both đź“š
- Fulton County public libraries  (see pages 3-4) — Books, internet, and programsÂ
- Literacy NY Fulton, Montgomery, & Schoharie counties (LNY-FMS) — Adult literacy and English learningÂ
- HFM BOCES Adult Literacy & ESL Programs — ESL and high school equivalency programsÂ
- HFHO BOCES Adult Education — Literacy and English classesÂ
- Mohawk Valley Community College — Adult literacy and ESL programs
Language 🌎
Literacy đź“–
- Catskill Literacies LLC — Literacy tutoring and support services
Both đź“š
- Greene County Public libraries — Books, programs, and internetÂ
- Columbia-Greene Community College — Adult literacy and ESLÂ
- Questar III Adult Education programs — ESL and workforce trainingÂ
- Literacy Connections of the Hudson Valley — Adult literacy tutoring
Language 🌎
Literacy đź“–
- Adirondack Literacy Council: Facebook page — Community-based literacy support
Both đź“š
- Hamilton County Public Libraries (see pages 4-5) — Books and community programsÂ
- HFM BOCES Adult Literacy & ESL Programs — ESL and literacy programsÂ
- FEH BOCES Adult Education Programs — English learning and literacyÂ
- HFHO BOCES Adult Education — Literacy and ESL programsÂ
- Mohawk Valley Community College — Adult education programs
Language 🌎
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Literacy Zone in Herkimer — Family literacy and support services
- Public libraries — Books, internet, and learning programsÂ
- HFHO BOCES Adult Education — ESL and literacy programsÂ
- Mohawk Valley Community College — Adult literacy and ESLÂ
- Herkimer County Community College — Adult education and degree programs, ESL Classes, free associate degrees for adult learners!
Literacy đź“–
- Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Adult Education — ESL and literacy programsÂ
- St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Adult Education — Adult learning and English classes
Both đź“š
- Lewis County Public Libraries — Books and community programsÂ
- Literacy of Northern New York (LNNY) — Adult literacy tutoring
Language 🌎
- Plattsburgh Cares — Support services for immigrantsÂ
- Adirondack Friends of Refugees and Immigrants — Community support and advocacy
Literacy đź“–
- Montgomery County Literacy Project — Adult literacy and tutoringÂ
- Amsterdam Literacy Zone — Family literacy and support services
Both đź“š
- Montgomery County Public Libraries (see pages 6-7) — Books and programsÂ
- Literacy New York (Fulton, Montgomery & Schoharie) — Adult literacy and ESLÂ
- Montgomery County Literacy Network — Basic education, GED, and ESLÂ
- HFM BOCES Adult Literacy & ESL Programs — English learning and workforce preparation
Language 🌎
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Otsego County Literacy Council — Adult literacy tutoringÂ
- Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES Adult Education Programs — ESL and literacy programsÂ
- Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Education Programs — Adult learning and English classes
- Otsego County Public Library — Books and programsÂ
- Otsego County Public Libraries — Books and programsÂ
- SUNY Oneonta — Educational and community learning opportunitiesÂ
- Literacy Volunteers of Otsego & Delaware Counties — Free tutoringÂ
- Mohawk Valley Community College — Adult education programs
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- YWCA of the Greater Capital Region — Literacy and education programs
- Rensselaer County Public Libraries — Books and community programsÂ
- Literacy Volunteers Capital Region — Adult tutoringÂ
- Capital District EOC (Troy) — Adult education and career trainingÂ
- SUNY ATTAIN Lab (Troy) — Technology-based learning and educationÂ
- Questar III Adult Education programs — ESL and workforce trainingÂ
- Hudson Valley Community College Educational Opportunity Center — ESL and career programs
- East Greenbush Community Library English for New Learners — English classes for adultsÂ
- Sunhee’s Community Place — Adult English classesÂ
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Tri-County Literacy Center — Adult literacy and tutoringÂ
- Saratoga Children’s Literacy League — Early literacy programs for children
- Saratoga County Public Libraries — Books, programs, and internetÂ
- Saratoga Springs Public Library — ESL and adult literacy programsÂ
- Literacy NY Greater Capital Region — Adult literacy & English learningÂ
- Literacy Volunteers Capital Region (LVORC) — Free tutoringÂ
- Capital Region BOCES Adult Education Programs — ESL and GED programs
- Saratoga Immigration Coalition — Support for immigrant families
- LifeWorks Community Action — no cost, virtual English classes for ages 18+ & immigrant services
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Reading is Fun Program (RIF) — Programs to promote children’s readingÂ
- Schenectady Takes Action for Reading Success (STARS): Facebook page — Community literacy initiativeÂ
- Schenectady Community Action Program — Education and family services
- Schenectady County Public Libraries — Books and programsÂ
- Literacy NY Greater Capital Region — Adult literacy supportÂ
- SUNY Schenectady Community Education — Adult learning programsÂ
- Washington Irving Educational Center — Adult education and GED programsÂ
- Literacy Volunteers Capital Region (LVORC) — Free tutoringÂ
- Capital Region BOCES Adult Education Programs — ESL and workforce programs
Both đź“š
- Schoharie County Public Libraries — Books and community programsÂ
- Literacy New York Fulton, Montgomery & Schoharie Counties — Adult literacy and ESLÂ
- Capital Region BOCES Adult Education Programs — English classes and GED programs
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- St. Lawrence University Reading Buddies program — English classes and GED programs
- St. Lawrence County Public Libraries — Books and programsÂ
- Potsdam Public Library — ESL and adult literacy programsÂ
- Literacy NY North Country Region — Adult literacy supportÂ
- Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES adult education programs — ESL and literacy programsÂ
- Jefferson-Lewis BOCES adult education programs — Adult learning programsÂ
- St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Adult Education programs — ESL and workforce programs
- St. Lawrence University online language resources — Language learning tools
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Warren County Literacy Connections Program — Adult literacy tutoring
- Warren County Public Libraries — Books and programsÂ
- Tri-County Literacy Center — Literacy support servicesÂ
- Literacy NY Greater Capital Region — Adult literacy programsÂ
- Literacy Volunteers (North Country) — English tutoring and adult literacy programs
- WSWHE BOCES Adult Education Programs — ESL and workforce trainingÂ
- Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES Adult Education — ESL and GED programs
Literacy đź“–
Both đź“š
Language 🌎
- Washington County Public Libraries — Books and programsÂ
- Literacy New York Greater Capital Region — Adult literacy supportÂ
- Literacy Volunteers (North Country) — Adult literacy programs and English tutoringÂ
- Tri-County Literacy Center — Literacy programsÂ
- WSWHE BOCES Adult Education Programs — ESL and workforce trainingÂ
- Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES Adult Education — ESL and GED programs