About the The Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS)

The Literacy Information and Communication System, commonly referred to as LINCS, is a national dissemination, resource gathering, and professional development system providing information on a wide variety of literacy relevant topics, issues, and resources.

As national attention has increasingly focused on the quality of instruction and educational resources, LINCS' emphasis has shifted from access to a wide variety of information to access to the highest-quality information, especially scientifically based research and resources based on the most rigorous research available. Where LINCS traditionally relied on a library model of providing resources, the redesigned LINCS provides a more focused collection of high quality resources geared toward improving instruction and delivery of services. Technical assistance is centered on assisting partner organizations and their members in using these new resources as well as on providing training developed around these resources.

The LINCS design uses three components: 1) Regional Resource Centers; 2) Resource Collections; and 3) Discussion Lists. The coordinated efforts of LINCS partners continues to provide a national infrastructure for the literacy community to access the most comprehensive collection of family and adult basic skills research, teaching/ learning and training resources.

LINCS Regional Resource Centers

LIFT is a partner of LINCS Region 2, which operates out of the Center for Literacy Studies at University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and provides a link to national, regional, and state-specific resource materials for adult literacy practitioners and students. Resources are collected from each of the eighteen Region 2 states--Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC, and West Virginia.