Project Read-Menlo Park has opened registration for its next tutor-training sessions for adults interested in volunteering to help other local adults learn to read.

The free training will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

No prior teaching experience is needed to train as a tutor for the literacy program, which has taught English language skills to thousands of local residents over the last 27 years. The program supplies tutors with all materials, and tutors and their students are able to set their own schedule for their weekly sessions.

Project Read makes DVD training available to people who are interested in tutoring but who are unable to attend the training sessions.

Roberta Roth, literacy outreach specialist at the Menlo Park Library, said that the program now has 60 tutors matched with students, "but there are many (potential students) on our waiting list."

Ms. Roth said that there are more than 86,000 adults in San Mateo County with "extremely limited" literacy skills, which limits their ability to help their children with homework, complete job applications, and even read instructions on a medicine bottle. "Project Read-Menlo Park is working to change that," she said.

Tutor training will take place in the downstairs meeting room of the Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. in the Civic Center. People interested in becoming tutors should call the Project Read office at 330-2525, or email Alice Bradshaw at aabradshaw@menlopark.org.

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.