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Cyberspace en Español

Web Resources in Spanish

Oregon Library Association Conference

April 20, 2007 Speakers:

• Dee Goldman, McMinnville Public Library

• Lorie Vik, Eugene Public Library

• Laura Staley, WebJunction

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Cyberspace en Español

Web resources in Spanish

OLA 2007

Lorie Vik – Eugene Public Library

lorie.a.vik@ci.eugene.or.us

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Cyberspace en Español

Web resources in Spanish

OLA 2007

Lorie Vik – Eugene Public Library

lorie.a.vik@ci.eugene.or.us

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Session Agenda– Case Study: McMinnville's experience with

Computación Sin Barreras– Case Study: Computer Classes for Spanish

speakers at Eugene Public Library – The Digital Divide and Making the Case for

Serving Spanish Speakers– Library Technology Programs for Spanish

Speakers– Resources for Working with Computers and

Spanish Speakers– Questions and Answers

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What is WebJunction? “An online community where library staff

meet to share ideas, solve problems, take

courses, and have fun.”• support library staff with technology

support and library development materials• provide courses for online learning and

professional development• bring library community together in online

discussions and programs, and for meeting in person when possible

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Philosophy

READ

LEARN

SHARE

Community-driven approach•Community contributes content and ideas•Community editors, moderators and advocates

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Spanish Language Outreach Pilot

• Partnership with 41 state libraries over 4 years

• Goals– Improve the knowledge and skills of local

library staff toward outreach to Spanish-speaking residents, with the longer-term goals of:

• increasing the numbers of Spanish-speakers involved in public access computing at their local public libraries.

• increasing the number of activities directed at reaching Spanish-speaking residents

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The Role of Public Libraries

• Libraries can play an important role in closing the gap in technology access between English and Spanish speakers, but doing so requires effective outreach to Hispanic/Latino communities.

• Effective Outreach involves:– Identifying the needs of the community and addressing the

needs through developed services– Making Spanish speakers aware of how the library can help

them improve their lives– Letting Spanish speakers know they are welcome in the

library and have access to all library resources– Delivering services in a culturally responsive way

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MAKING THE CASE

“…in order to meet the changing and growing needs of our communities, it is becoming a basic service to reach out beyond our walls and make library services not only accessible but also relevant to diverse populations.”

Serving Latino Communities: A How-To-Do-It Manual for LibrariansBy Camila Alire and Orlando Archibeque

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Changing Landscape

Hispanic/Latinos now comprise the largest minority group in the US and the fastest growing segment of the population

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004, “U.S. Interim Projections by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin.”

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The Digital Divide

• 56% of Hispanics go online in comparison to 71% of non-Hispanic whites

• Just one in three (32%) Latinos who speak only Spanish go online. 

• 78% of Latinos who are English-dominant and 76% of bilingual Latinos use the internet (that is higher than the 71% of non-Hispanic white online

• Internet use is uniformly low for whites (32%), Hispanics (31%), and African Americans (25%) who have not completed high school

• Latinos are less likely than whites to have an internet connection at home.  Just 29% of Latino adults have a broadband connection at home, compared with 43% of white adults

Latinos Online Report: http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/204/report_display.asp

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Challenges Faced by Hispanic/Latino

Population• Education – 27% of Hispanics/Latinos have less than a ninth

grade education compared with only 4% of non-Hispanic whites.

• Language– 75% of Hispanics speak a language other than

English at home.– Among Hispanics, approximately 2 in 5 speak English

less than “very well.”• Economics

– 26% of full-time, year-round Hispanic workers earn $35,000 or more, compared to 53.8% of non-Hispanic whites.

Source: U.S Census Bureau, “Annual Demographics Supplement to the March 2002 Current Population Survey.”

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Activity: Making the Case• Directions: Brainstorm responses to the

following:– Explain the importance of serving Spanish

speakers to someone within the library (staff, director, board member) who is resistant or believes the library should address other priorities

– Explain the importance of serving Spanish speakers to a community member who is resistant

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Building Support Within the Library for Serving Spanish

Speakers• Become an advocate• Communicate/collaborate with administration• Get philosophical commitment - include in

library’s strategic plan/mission• Prioritize - select target segment, specific

need, specific service to start with• Develop specific outcomes and action plans• Start small, but plan for the long term• Communicate and involve all levels of staff• Report, document, evaluate, adapt

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Building Support Within the

Community • Acknowledge that changing attitudes and values is

difficult• Focus on what’s in it for the community• Reward, acknowledge, recognize efforts• Provide frequent, safe opportunities for people to

learn about/interact with Spanish-speaking community

• Collect stories, anecdotes from Spanish speakers and share them with the community at large

• Use relevant examples and statistics to persuade– Example: local drop-out rate of Latino students

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Additional Resources for Making the Case

• 10 Reasons We Buy Spanish Books – By Al Milo, http://www.reforma.org/refogold.htm#Why

• Spanish Translation of the Library Bill of Rights http://www.reforma.org/refogold.htm#derechos

• REFORMA Language Rights http://www.reforma.org/ToolkitPartI.pdf

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CURRENT LANDSCAPE

How are libraries meeting computer needs of Spanish

speakers?

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Why Do Spanish speakers Want/Need Computer Training and

Access?• Keep up with children• Apply for jobs & function

in current job• Access important

information (health, legal, educational, etc.)

• Communicate with family/get news from home

• Learn English• Entertainment

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Types of Programs Being Offered

• Basic computer skills• Internet/email• Word and other

common applications• Using search engines:

how to find the information you need

• ESL tutorials• Social software, eg.

Skype• Open hours – one-to-

one help

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Finding the Right Instructor

• Language Ability

• Technology Skills

• Awareness of Cultural Differences eg. appropriate dress for teaching

• Knowledge of the Spanish-speaking community

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Overcoming the Language Barrier

• Find a volunteer from the Spanish-speaking community to serve as a translator

• Keep the class size small

• Refresh knowledge of technology terms in Spanish

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Class Logistics

• Scheduling

• Course Information

• Enrollment

• Transportation

• Child care

• Marketing

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Preparing for Class

• Before Class– Prepare computers

• As Class Begins– Anticipate late arrivals– Address fears– Demonstrate basics

• Throughout Class– Explain terminology– Provide clear handouts in Spanish– Empower students

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Tips For Successful Computer Classes

• Full information about the classes

• Weekly regular classes

• Benefits of attending • Classes tailored to

local issues• Bilingual

instruction/handouts

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Additional Strategies

• Marketing Materials for Public Access Computers in Spanish

• Open lab hours staffed by bilingual staff• Instructions for Opening and Using a Hotmail

Account in Spanish • ESL Software • Reference list of Search Engines/Resources

in Spanish• Reference list of Spanish Online Computer

Tutorials

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Lessons Learned

• Importance of conveying that libraries provide what is often the only computer access available to Spanish speakers in community

• Computer classes in Spanish should be offered and integrated into library’s long range plan

• Make no assumptions about what the community knows about the library or its services

• Start small, commit for long term

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Curriculum Resources

• Basic Skills• Internet & Email• Office Applications• ESL Resources• HTML

See Resource Packet for annotated list of web resources or visit: www.webjunction.org

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MARKETING TO THE SPANISH-SPEAKING

COMMUNITY

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What Are You Marketing?

• Focus on selling the service or program in terms that “connect” or mean something to the community — that relate to their needs, problems, life situations, etc.

• Focus on selling the concept that the library is there to help. Avoid focusing on selling the “library.”

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Developing Messages That Connect

• Instead of publicizing a list of computer classes, talk about what the classes will help them do:– Do you want to learn how to communicate with

your family in Mexico? Come to the library to learn how to send e-mail messages.

– Are you looking for a job? Come to learn how to submit your job application on the computer.

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Tips on Preparing Marketing Materials

• Emphasize the visual. Use color.

• Emphasize the 4 F’s– Free (Gratis), Family, Food, Fun

• Use their language

• Get it down to basics

• Get help reviewing translations

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Techniques for Better Word-of-Mouth Exposure

• Promote service among local community leaders

• Hold special events within the community tailored to community needs and interests

• Partner with community events

• Work with the ethnic media to help spread the word

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Community of Interest at WJ

www.WebJunction.org/Spanish

• Content• Message Boards• Program Curriculum Materials• Spanish Language Outreach Online Course!• Monthly 1-hour Webinars• Follow-on Curriculum – Building and

Sustaining Multicultural Partnerships• Program evaluation including Focus Groups

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Lots of Links – Library Sites

• Boston Public Libraryhttp://www.bpl.org/spanish/internet.htm

• Contra Costa County Libraryhttp://www.ccclib.org/spanish/researchcenter/oldresearchmain.html#recursos

• Los Angeles Public Libraryhttp://www.lapl.org/espanol/sitos.php

• Queens Public Libraryhttp://www.queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?page_nm

=Spanish

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Lots of Links – Library Sites

• San Francisco Public Library

http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/spanish/sfplonline/red/red.htm

• Multnomah County Library

http://www.multcolib.org/libros/ref/temas.html

• Newport (OR) Public Library (nice concise list)

http://www.newportlibrary.org/esplinks.htm

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Oregon Resources

• Mexican Consulate in Portland

http://www.sre.gob.mx/portland/

• The Beehive

http://www.thebeehive.org/Templates/National/Default.aspx

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News and Portals

• Univision http://www.univision.com

• Yahoo http://telemundo.yahoo.com

• MSN http://latino.msn.com/

• CNN http://www.cnn.com/espanol/

• Links to International Newspapers

http://www.biblioweb.dgsca.unam.mx/periodicos/

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Health Resources

• MedlinePlushttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/

medlineplus.html• NOAHhttp://www.noah-health.org/ • CDC (Center for Disease Control)http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/default.htm• Healthfinderhttp://www.healthfinder.gov/espanol/

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Learn English

• La Mansión del inglés

http://www.mansioningles.com

• Curso de inglés

http://www.curso-ingles.com

• Dictionary

http://www.wordreference.com/es/index.htm

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Computer Instruction

• Aprenda la Red (Learn the Net)

http://www.learnthenet.com/spanish/html/00start.html

• GCF Global Learning

http://www.gcfaprendagratis.org/Tutorials