May Webinar on Outreach Success Stories
Join three Montana librarians on May 13 for a free one-hour webinar, featuring real-world examples of successful Spanish Language Outreach. Amy Ling (North Valley Public Library), Marie Habener (Dillon Public Library) and Molly Ledermann (Missoula Public Library) will present the work they have done to sustain the momentum of WebJunction's Spanish Language Outreach project, and discuss their ongoing strategies to assess community needs, make their libraries more welcoming, develop programming, and foster connections with Spanish-speaking communities. Montana librarians became involved with Spanish Language Outreach through participation in workshops in seven Montana communities. Since then, they have used the MTSLO blog to showcase those who continue to provide outreach activities, services and programs for Spanish Speakers in their communities. Register for this and other WebJunction events » | Making Conexiones in Kansas—A Report from the Field
by Zola Maddison, WebJunction Partner Services Consultant
At the recent Kansas Library Association/Mountain Plains Library Association Conference in Wichita, Kansas, library staff gathered for the preconference event, Conexiones: Connect with and Serve Latinos in Your Community. The day began with an overview of the key findings from the Latinos and Public Libraries Perceptions report, published by WebJunction in partnership with the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute. We heard inspirational case studies of successful library programs for Latinos. The case studies offered something for everyone—Jane Hatch presented on the overwhelming participation for her Latino Health Fair for a large library system, Christine Peterson demonstrated the benefits for multilingual story telling with puppets, and Cindi Hickey, WJ-Kansas team lead, outlined the achievements of a small library creating a vibrant Hispanic Heritage Celebration. We had lively discussions as we worked through the Spanish Language Outreach resources including Action Planning and Suggested Outreach Activities. We were so fortunate to have Camila Alire, ALA president-elect, join our discussions and provide her additional insights and observations. Her parting words were a reminder to all of us providing outreach to Spanish speakers and immigrant communities: Outreach work is a risk and takes courage! We are taking a risk when we reach out to communities we don’t know, and it takes courage to go against the grain of other community members. But as librarians, our job is to ensure that all of our community has access to the information they need to thrive. We’re lucky to have access to the tools we need to take these risks, and the colleagues who are willing to give us support and courage. See Preconference Presentation and Resources » |
Latino Perceptions Report at ALA
If you're heading to Chicago, mark your calendar for the panel presentation "Research into Practice: Latino Perception of Public Libraries and Their Public Library Use," to be held on July 11 at 3:30 pm CST. The esteemed panel of presenters include Loida Garcia-Febo, assistant coordinator, New Americans Program and Special Services, Queens Library, and incoming REFORMA president; Kathy Sheppard, development consultant, South Carolina State Library, and South Carolina's SLO coordinator; and Zola Maddison of WebJunction. Panelists will share the project overview, methodology, and results. Information about relevant research will also be presented along with best practices for using the research to inform strategic planning, advocacy, and outreach. WebJunction published this national study in September 2008, in partnership with the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute. The objective was to determine how Latinos perceive public libraries to better inform strategic planning and advocacy for library outreach to Latinos.
| A free publication produced by WebJunction, the Spanish Language Outreach Program Update is distributed bi-monthly in an electronic format. You can find current and past issues at webjunction.org/slo-update and read WebJunction's newsletter at webjunction.org/Crossroads.
To subscribe, go to webjunction.org/slo-update and enter your email address in the subscription box.
To unsubscribe, email SpanishOutreach@webjunction.org with unsubcribe in the subject line.
Please feel free to pass along this update to your friends; we do ask, however, that you keep the newsletter intact and forward it in its entirety.
WebJunction.org will not sell or otherwise make available to outside parties the information provided by Website users and newsletter subscribers. This update is distributed using a third-party service provider.
© 2009 Online Computer Library Center, Inc. All rights reserved. Product and service names are trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. OCLC, 6565 Kilgour Place, Dublin OH USA 43017-3395 | ISSN 1552-36165 | | | |
