This manual is planned for use by both community organizations interested in starting literacy programs to serve their neighborhoods and for agencies providing other services to clients who would also benefit from literacy services. It is organized in four parts, which represent various stages in thinking about and starting a new literacy program. Part I focuses on deciding to start a literacy program. Four chapters discuss: evaluation of needs and resources; describe models for literacy programs, with the advantages and disadvantages of each; address the decision to use literacy volunteers' technical assistance; and examine in two case studies how the differences in resources available to each program affected the program's success or failure. Part II deals with planning the program. Four chapters cover hiring staff, recruiting students and volunteer tutors, and planning the library. Three chapters in Part III address starting the program, including enrolling adult learners, training volunteer tutors through the Literacy Volunteers of New York City model, and starting the educational center. Two chapters in Part IV focus on helping the program develop and grow, including creating a community of learners, developing leadership potential among the students, and helping students graduate and move on. Worksheets are provided at the end of some chapters for planning purposes. (YLB)