A study examined the services provided by and the role and training of volunteers in adult literacy programs in the United States. Data on a national probability sample of approximately 800 adult literacy programs that was collected by the Center for Statistics through its Fast Response Survey System indicated that in spring 1985 adult literacy instruction was provided in an estimated 2,900 adult education programs offered through school districts, community colleges, and adult learning centers, as well as in an estimated 1,300 local adult literacy programs (LALPs), including volunteer groups, community-based organizations, other private literacy organizations, and libraries. About half of the adult education programs and nearly all the LALPs used volunteers. Five types of programs were offered: basic literacy, pre-General Educational Development (GED) examination, GED, oral English-as-a-second language (ESL), and oral and written ESL instruction. Approximately 729,000 persons received instruction during a 1-month period in 1985. Volunteers were used in the following capacities: one-to-one tutoring, teaching small groups, serving as teacher's aides, and teaching classes. Lack of people to volunteer was cited as the main barrier to using volunteers. Ninety-six percent of the programs using volunteers provided training for them, with 86 percent providing an average of 13 hours preservice training for new volunteers. In 80 percent of the programs training was conducted by program staff or other volunteers. Fifty-nine percent of the programs used Laubach Literacy Action materials and 43 percent used in-house materials. Forty percent of the programs surveyed rated their volunteers as excellent, 51 percent as good, 7 percent as fair, and 2 percent as poor. (MN)