Services for Spanish-speaking library users
Summaries of three grants to benefit Spanish-speaking library patrons.
Grant 1 | Grant 2 | Grant 3
Grant 1: Delaware County District Library
Identify geographic area impacted:
Delaware County is located in Central Ohio.
Identify population segment served:
This project will benefit the Spanish-speaking population
of Delaware County.
Explain need for the project:
According to the 1990 census 0.2% of the population in Delaware
County indicated that Spanish was the primary language spoken in the home.
In the 2000 census that figure was 1.8% of the total population. In ten
years, while the total county population increased by 61%, the number of
residents whose primary language is Spanish grew by 1000%. Library staff
began to notice this increase in Spanish speakers in the community a few
years ago. A small collection of ESOL materials was added two years ago.
At approximately the same time the library received a Spanish language computer
as part of the Gates Foundation grant. The computer has attracted many people
to the library that were not served previously. However, the library still
is not providing print material, the core of library service, to customers
who read only Spanish.
What are the objectives of the proposal:
1. To provide specialized library service to the residents
of Delaware County who are native speakers of Spanish.
Describe program activities and who will perform them:
The library will add at least 1500 items, including
books written in Spanish and appropriate AV materials of English language
instruction, to the library's circulating collection. Titles in the collection
will be chosen based on results of an ongoing survey of members of the Spanish-speaking
community and in consultation with liaisons to the Hispanic community. Materials
will be shelved in a separate section in the library. Once the core collection
is established using LSTA funds, more titles will be selected and added
on a monthly basis. The project will be heavily promoted and publicized
in businesses, churches, and agencies with strong ties to the Hispanic community.
Explain method for evaluating the
proposal:
Circulation statistics will be monitored with the goal that
within one year, one percent of the total library circulation will come
from this part of the collection. The library will also rely on feedback
in the form of direct contact and completed surveys from users of the collection
and from the library's liaisons to the Hispanic community for an ongoing
assessment of the collection.
Budget:
Federal: $17,516 ---- Local: $5,839 ---- Total: $23,355
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Grant 2: Dayton Metro Library
Identify geographic area impacted:
Dayton is located in Montgomery County in Southwest Ohio.
Identify population segment served:
This project will benefit Spanish-speaking youth in Montgomery
County.
Explain need for the project:
According to 2000 census figures the Hispanic population of
Montgomery County was 7096. However, it is estimated that for every person
of Hispanic descent counted in the census there are three to five more that
remain uncounted. This would put the city of Dayton's Hispanic population
between 12,000 and 14,000. Dayton Public Schools have identified 1500 Hispanic
families who are eligible for Head Start. The library has already made a
good start in preparing to address the needs of the Hispanic Community.
A Latino Outreach Steering Committee has been created to coordinate the
activities of the library in serving the Hispanic community. The library
is also participating in the Latino Connection, a local networking group
for organizations serving Hispanics. A Spanish language collection of adult
titles exists at the main library, yet there is no corresponding collection
for children and teens. There is a need for materials that children can
read in their native language, both before and after they become proficient
in English. This project will allow the library to provide Spanish language
collections for children and young adults in selected library branches.
What are the objectives of the project?
1. To have circulating Spanish collections for
children and teens established in six branches of the library by August
31, 2003.
2. To have one public access computer in each of these branches
with a Spanish language keyboard and loaded with Spanish language Microsoft
office by August 31, 2003.
3. To train 100 staff members to understand and provide good
library service to Hispanic patrons and to choose culturally appropriate
materials.
4. To develop and execute a comprehensive public relations
plan that will promote the use of the collections as well as all of the
services of unique interest to the Hispanic commmunity.
Describe program activities and who will perform them:
The library will contract with OCLC to provide "opening
day" children's and teen collections. Each collection will consist
of 200 books, 30 videotapes, 30 DVDs, 2 magazine subscriptions, and an annual
subscription of Fotonovelas. A collection of 200 books will also be purchased
for the Outreach Department. Collections will be housed in separate, identifiable
areas at each branch. Computer equipment will be purchased and installed.
The library will contract with Latino Business Systems for training library
staff. Training sessions will be 1.5 hours in length and will be presented
three times. The public relations campaign will include contacts with Hispanic
organizations, mailings, programs, and receptions to inaugurate the new
collections.
Explain method for evaluating the proposal:
Monthly circulation statistics will be kept for the collection
with a separate material code assigned to these materials. Statistics will
be kept on the use of the public access Spanish language computers, including
a count of the number of users and the total amount of time these computers
are used. Staff will be asked to evaluate the training sessions. A follow-up
evaluation will assess whether staff members were able to put what they
learned into practical application. Staff members will be asked to collect
anecdotal information from patrons using the collection. Members of the
Latino Connection will be asked to provide information about the effectiveness
of the collection.
Budget:
Federal: $20,243 ---- Local: $6,748 ---- Total: $26,991
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Grant 3: Ida Rupp Public Library
Identify geographic
area impacted:
Port Clinton is located in Ottawa County in Northwest Ohio.
Identify population segment served:
This project will serve the Spanish-speaking and Hispanic
community in Port Clinton and Ottawa County.
Explain need for the project:
While the presence of Spanish-speaking and Hispanic
community groups has long been recognized in Ottawa County, the literacy
and reading needs of these citizens have not been met. Presently, there
is no established library program or collection in Ottawa County designed
to meet the needs of these community members. Community members of Hispanic
origin comprise 11% of the residents of Portage Township, in which the Ida
Rupp Public Library is located and 6.5% of Put-in-Bay Township where the
Erie Islands Branch is located. The Ida Rupp Public Library is particularly
well suited to develop, organize and circulate a Spanish-language collection
as staff have expressed interest in the project, and two staff members are
Spanish-speaking.
What are the objectives of the proposal:
1. To establish a circulating collection of Spanish-language
items in all formats which will allow the Library to reach out and include
the Spanish-speaking and Hispanic communities.
2. To expose all library patrons to the cultural wealth of
Spanish-language and Hispanic entertainment and literature.
Describe program activities and who will perform them:
The library will purchase a seed collection of Spanish-language
materials in all formats. The Library estimates purchasing 180 adult books,
70 children's books, 60 videos (nonfiction and fiction), 16 CDs and 16 audio
tapes. This collection will grow yearly through the library's budget. The
collection will be an "interest collection" allowing the Library
the flexibility to tailor selections to meet the needs and interests of
the collection's users. Materials will be selected, in consultation with
other libraries with Spanish-language collections, REFORMA, and the ALA's
Library Services to the Spanish-speaking Committee. Library staff will meet
with school leaders, government officials, and social service professionals
as partners in making the library's collections and services known to all
community members. The collection will be publicized in area newspapers
and through bilingual press releases and flyers. At least 6 staff presentations
will be given to publicize the project.
Explain method for evaluating the proposal:
The Spanish-language collection will have its
own collection category. Monthly reports from the circulation system will
enable the accurate measurement of circulation. Two focus groups with users
will be held to allow patrons to share their comments about the collection
and to assess future collection development areas.
Budget:
Federal: $6,094 ---- Local: $2,032 ---- Total: $8,126
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