Best Practices for Libraries Serving Immigrant Communities

Access for All

Florida Library Association2011 Annual Conference

Orlando, FL - May 4th, 2011

Panel

Lucía M. González. PresidentREFORMA (The National Association to Promote Library and

Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking)

Adam S. Davis. Branch Manager. West Boynton Branch Library (Palm Beach County Library System)

Isabel Castro. MLIS Graduate StudentSan Jose State University

Alicia K. Long. MLIS Graduate Student. Spectrum ScholarUniversity of South Florida – School of Information

Serving Immigrants

Introduction: Who are Florida’s Immigrants?

Access to Services

Collection Development

Programming

Multicultural Communities

All people live in an increasingly heterogeneous society. There are more than 6,000 different languages in the world. The international migration rate is growing every year resulting in an increasing number of people with complex identities. Globalization, increased migration, faster communication, ease of transportation and other 21st century forces have increased cultural diversity in many nations where it might not have previously existed or has augmented the existing multicultural makeup.

- IFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto, 2009

Multicultural Communities: Guidelines for Library Services. Third Edition. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. P.O. Box 95312, 2509 CH, The Hague, Netherlands. Tel: +31-70-3140-884; Fax: +31-70-3834-827; e-mail: IFLA@ifla.org;

Web site: http://www.ifla.org, 2009. Print.

What is an immigrant?

The Nation’s Immigrants

States with 18.7% or more foreign-born population

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2005-2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

Florida’s Immigrants

Florida’s Population Total:15,058,521

Foreign-Born:3,479,448

Source: Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of 2009 American Community Survey (1% IPUMS)

Florida’s languages

Population speaking language other than English at home:4,412,787 people (population 5 years of age and older)

Languages Spoken:Spanish: 3,221,199Other Indo-European Languages: 870,129Asian and Pacific Islander: 230,892Other Languages: 90,567

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 2005-2009 American Community Survey.

Spanish Speakers

French Creole Speakers

Number of speakers per language in Florida

Diversity in diversity

Differentiate: Immigrants / Foreign-born / English Language Learners (ELL) / Hispanics-Latino / Asian / ...

Recognize: Immigrants; First, second or third-generation Americans.

Be specific: Spanish-speaking: Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Hondurans, Colombians, etc.... and families with members of different nationalities.

Get to know your community!

Access for All: Why?

ALA Key Action Areas. Diversity.“Diversity is a fundamental value of the association and its members,

and is reflected in its commitment to recruiting people of color and people with disabilities to the profession and to the promotion and development of library collections and services for all people”

ALA Policy Manual. Section 60: Diversity.

Resolution in support of immigrants' rights to free public library access. (ALA – REFORMA, 2005)

“RESOLVED, that the American Library Association work with REFORMA and other affiliates to develop a public information strategy to inform and educate public libraries and member constituents about alternate forms of identification that will allow free public access to library services for ALL immigrant populations.”

Access for All: How to Build your Case

Demographics (based on language, country of origin)

RUSA RSS Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users

RUSA RSS Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of Multilingual Collections and Services

Library Bill of Rights / Declaracion de los Derechos de las Bibliotecas

Freedom to Read

Access to Library ServicesPartnerships

Organizations to seek out as likely partners:

• Government agencies• Community-based organizations• Immigrant organizations• Adult education providers• Local universities and community colleges• Faith-based organizations• Local public school systems• Social services agencies• Refugee and resettlement organizations• Local business associations and service clubs

Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices. Washington, D.C.: Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2006. Internet resource

The staff of The American Place, an immigration program at the Hartford Public Library in Connecticut, took advantage of the proximity of their library to government offices and developed a close working relationship with the local USCIS Hartford Field Office. Library staff members regularly participate in community meetings hosted by the Hartford Field Office to provide input on local immigration matters.

The Queens Borough Public Library in New York has a partnership with the Queens Health Network, the largest healthcare provider in the area. They work together to plan monthly “coping skills” workshops addressing the health needs of immigrants and featuring speakers from two local public hospitals.

The King County Library System in the state of Washington joined forces with a local literacy organization, a church, and the USCIS Seattle District Office to develop a pilot program called “Centered on Citizenship.” The program’s goal is to involve teen tutors in preparing adult and elderly citizenship applicants for the naturalization process. Tutoring includes question-and-answer practice for the naturalization test as well as English language dictation practice. In addition, applicants get training and practice in techniques to help them handle the stress that may arise during their naturalization interview.

Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices. Washington, D.C.: Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2006. Internet resource.

Access to Library ServicesOutreach

Strategies for helping immigrant patrons feel welcome and valued in the library:

• Serve on the library board.• Library tours• Roundtable discussions• Participate in local public events to publicize the library’s services for immigrants• Print a brief brochure or flyer• Develop public service announcements (PSAs) for local radio stations.

Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices. Washington, D.C.: Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2006. Internet resource

The Outreach Librarian at the Boulder Public Library considers outreach to be inextricably linked to partnerships. Her first step as an Outreach Librarian was to attend meetings held by community groups and other organizations. In collaboration with other agencies, the library was able to initiate an Immigration and U.S. Citizenship Advocacy Group consisting of representatives of local government agencies, schools, adult education and literacy programs, and other organizations.

The Queens Borough Public Library distributes “Help!” booklets and bookmarks to assist immigrant library patrons. Available in English and 12 other languages, the “Help!” materials feature basic library terminology.

“Library Links!,” the multilingual outreach program of the Minneapolis Public Library in Minnesota, has six Bilingual Outreach Liaisons. These library staff members develop partnerships, attend community events, make regular contact with other organizations to inform them about library programs and events, and help introduce immigrants to the library. Bilingual Outreach Liaisons also work regular shifts at the library so that patrons will know when bilingual assistance is available. In addition, they also translate all appropriate library-produced literature and provide training workshops for teachers who work with immigrants.

Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices. Washington, D.C.: Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2006. Internet resource.

Barriers to Access

What a library means to the patron depends on the country of origin

Staffing

Physical access to collections and services

Library policies Library cards

Access to Library Cards

An Example of Alternate ID: Mexico’s “Matrícula Consular”

Issuance Requirements1.Proof of Nationality2.Proof of Identity3.Proof of Establishment4.Issuance Fee Payment

Matrícula Consular includes local address.

Collection Development

Why do we need materials in languages other than English?

Isabel Castro

Librarians for Tomorrow

San Jose State University

10 Reasons Why We Buy (Insert foreign language here)

Materials

Adapted from

“10 reasons Why We Buy Spanish Books” by Al Milo, retrieved from REFORMA’s website (resources and publications.)

7. The library is helping to provide opportunities for recent immigrants to learn English. We have ESL tapes, bilingual dictionaries and literacy classes. How else are they going to learn! People don't learn English just because you pass a law. They need to be provided with opportunities to learn English.

Programming

Multicultural Programming: Sharing Similarities and Differences

Lucía M. González

Formula for success

Program responsibly to serve the real needs of the families and children in the community while promoting mutual knowledge, respect, and appreciation.

Write a grant so you can bring performers, authors, and renowned special guests

Include music, dancing, puppetry, and treats in the story hour

Work with artists and personalities in the community

Celebrate significant cultural events such as the independence day of the countries of origin of the majority of the groups in your community, Three King’s Day, Dia de los niños, NOCHE DE CUENTOS, etc.

First Voice Programming

Recommendations

Library programming must first and foremost respond to the needs of customers and potential customers.

Take the time to introduce the myriad resources available at the library, so that they can find a job, read about what is happening in their home country, and find a good book.

As part of the program, introduce audience to related library resources and information on how to use the library in their own language.

A performance by a local folkdance group would be followed by a brief discussion of the books, web links and other resources available on the particular dance tradition, the country and other art forms.

Always have bilingual handouts that include information on how to sign up for a library card

Offer Wide Selection

Family Literacy

Community/public services informative programs

Vocational Programs

English language instruction

Computer classes (in their language, or bilingual)

Recommended!

Queens Library Newcomers Programswww.queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?page_nm=NAP+-+Programs

Coping Skills: Free lectures and workshops in the most widely spoken immigrant languages of Queens on topics essential to new immigrants' acculturation, such as citizenship and job training information, advice on helping children learn, and information on available social services.

Cultural Programs: Free readings, concerts and workshops celebrating the literary, performing and folk arts of immigrants from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Recommended!

Broward County Library’s Newcomers/New Americans Program www.bplfoundation.org/newcomers.htm

Designed to assist residents from other countries, whose primary language is not English, or who are not English proficient, to successfully maneuver life and living in America, offering courses to develop employability skills, computer skills, citizenship orientation, parenting, home buying, cultural programs and young adult forums in Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese.A Multiethnic Resource Online Directory was produced with funding from this program that includes civic and political organizations, cultural groups, educational organizations, gay and lesbian organizations, media organization and religious organizations. It also includes a listing of festivals and other cultural celebrations.

Family Literacy – Noche

STORYTELLING NEVER FAILS

http://accessforall.wikispaces.com

Thank You / Gracias / Obrigado / Di ou mèsi / Salamat / Danke / Merci / شكرا / शु�क्रि�या� / 谢谢 / Grazie / 감사합니다 / ...