Ren Bue Bilingual Outreach Coordinator, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI

1
Unintended Consequences

• René Bue - Bilingual Outreach Coordinator,
  Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI
• Tammy Pineda - Madison SLIS student
• Wisconsin Association
• of Public Libraries
• May 1, 2008

2
Welcome

• Hedberg Public Library
• Janesville, WI

3
Why are we here today?

• -History of American library services
• to immigrants and the underserved
• -Barriers to library services
• -Diversity Audit
• -other resources

4
Why does this matter?

• Many recent immigrants dont use our library, so
  why do I need this?
• Arent services to the underserved the same as
  serving the rest of the community?
• Im too busy to take this on right now.
• There is no to do this.

5
Why does this matter?

• The fundamental philosophy of public libraries in
  the United States, starting with the Library Bill
  of Rights, has consistently maintained that
  libraries are for everyone, regardless of
  country of origin, age, background, or views.
• Library Bill of Rights, American Library
  Association, Adopted June 18, 1948

6
Why does this matter?

• ALA advocates funding and policies that support
  libraries as great democratic institutions,
  serving people of every age, income level,
  location, ethnicity, or physical ability, and
  providing the full range of information resources
  needed to live, learn, govern, and work.
• (Ramírez Wohlmuth, de la Peña-McCook, 2004)

7
History of American library services to the
underserved
Minneapolis Public Library Bookmobile
(1922)Minneapolis Collection, M1328
8
History of American library services to the
underserved
Chatham Square Branch, New York Public Library
G.H. Spray Photographer
9
Barriers

• Illiteracy
• Language
• Poverty
• Transportation
• Cultural Issues

10
Barriers - Illiteracy

• Approaches
• Keep it simple
• Free, Family, Fun
• Partnerships to promote programs
• Promote wordless books and oral storytelling
• Reconsider layout of library

• Problems
• Reading level of library information
• Dependence on flyers and print advertisements
• Signage issues to locate materials

11
Barriers - Language

• Approaches
• Identify languages spoken
• School stats, churches, social services agencies,
  etc.
• Get things translated
• Make it a priority to hire bilingual/bicultural
  staff
• Bilingual programming using partnerships with
  schools, community leaders, etc.

• Problems
• What are the languages spoken in your
  neighborhood?
• Policies, programming info, and other information
  in other languages?
• Lack of bilingual Staff, and bilingual
  programming

12
Barriers - Poverty

• Approaches
• Staff training on working with people in poverty
• Flexibility
• Programming that accommodates working parents

• Problems
• Change of address
• No proof of address
• Fines
• Unattended children

13
Barriers - Transportation

• Approaches
• More programming outside of the library
• Programming that correlates with bus schedule
• Free bus passes for children
• Partnerships

• Problems
• Is your library on a major street?
• Does the bus have regular hours that correlate
  with your librarys hours?
• Is your library in a safe location?

14
Barriers Cultural Issues

• Approaches
• Staff training on intercultural communication
• Learn about the different cultural groups in
  your community
• Ask them what they want/need
• Community partnerships!

• Problems
• Diversity of cultures (Latinos)
• Education level
• English abilities
• Legal status
• Religious issues
• Cultural norms

15
Libraries in Latin America
Academic focus - reference and non-fiction Some
countries have free lending libraries some do
not Limited or no access to internet and/or
technology Mostly no children/family programming
Many collections do not offer entertainment
materials (videos, computer games, music, etc.)
16
Libraries in Latin America

• COLOMBIA

17
Libraries in Latin America

• NICARAGUA

18
Libraries in Latin America

• MEXICO

19
Diversity Audit

• Balanced Scorecard concept - Accountability
• A measuring tool
• Where are we where do we want to be in 2 yrs?
• - in 5 yrs? in 10 yrs?
• Helps identify goals empower people to be
  change agents for their own library

20

• 2006
• Diversity Statistical Audit Summary
• (Answers are from Hennepin County Librarys 26
  Libraries and the Readmobile)
• Part I
• Multilingual Welcome banner noticeably displayed?
  
• 2004 2006
• Yes 25 Yes - 25
• No 2 No - 2
• 2. Multilingual signage used in building?
• Yes 15 Yes - 9
• No 12 No - 14
• No Answer or Not
  applicable (N/A) - 3
• 3. Multicultural art on display?
• Yes 11 Yes - 15
• No 14 No - 11
• Coming soon 1
• 4. Would You Like to have Multicultural Art?
• Yes 25 No 2

21

• CONTINUEDgtgtgtgt
• 6. Do you have a Language Collection and
  Learning Center? Is it visible
• from front door?
• 2004 2006 Have One? Visible
  from front door?
• Very 1 Yes 16 Not
  Visible - 5
• Somewhat 11 No 10 Somewhat
  visible - 8
• Not visible 14 Very visible
  - 3
• 7. Are there directional signs to collection?
• Yes 8 Yes - 7
• No 18 No - 11
• No answer 1 N/A or no answer - 9
• 8. Collection contains material in all
  formats?
• 2004 2006
• Yes 7 Yes 13
• No 7
• No CD Music 12

22

• CONTINUEDgtgtgt
• 1. Multicultural targeted programs offered in
  library in past year?
• 2004 2006
• Conversation Circles 7 Conversation Circles -
  9
• ESL Tours / Orientation 12 ESL
  Tours/Orientations 19
• ESL/ELL Classes 7 ESL/ELL Classes 1
• Bilingual Storytimes 7 Bilingual Storytimes
  - 14
• Computer Classes 9 Computer Classes 6
  
• Other programs 5 Other programs - 13
• None 10 None - 4
• 2. Regular contact with community organizations
  serving diverse communities?
• Yes 19 Yes - 19
• No 6 No - 6
• N/A 1 N/A or Occasional - 2

23
Diversity Audit
24
Key Approaches

• Develop an Outreach Plan
• Make Outreach a priority
• Create a team to strategize
• Innovation (be creative)
• Evaluate (Diversity Audit)

25
Key Approaches

• Engage the community
• (They are the experts!)
• Go outside of your comfort zone! Be brave!
• Initiate contact with target groups
• Empower them to be actively engaged
• Planning, promoting, evaluating

26
Key Approaches

• Partnerships, Partnerships, Partnerships!
• Common objectives
• Shared resources
• Shared power
• System-wide commitment support

27
Critical Partnerships
The targeted community themselves (find
leaders) Ethnic restaurants, newspapers, radio,
businesses Social Services and community
agencies that serve disadvantaged
people Churches and other religious
organizations Schools (Teachers are our
friends!) Adult ESL teachers
28
Key Approaches

• Staff development
• Bridges Out of Poverty
• Intercultural communication
• Cultural trainings
• Language courses

29
Key Approaches

• Diversify Your Library
• Does your front-line staff reflect your
  community?
• Bilingual AND bicultural staff (pay
  differential?)
• Be creative in hiring
• Promote jobs in places where diverse people are
• Word of mouth
• Hire cultural liaisons if possible

30
Key Approaches

• Make it a priority! Start today!
• Something is not always better than nothing.
• Do things better and be brave!
• Advocate for change in your library!

31
Key Approaches

• Review rules, procedures and policies to ensure
  that these do not create unnecessary barriers for
  people.

32
The Payoff

• The ability of the public library to remain
  indispensable in the eyes of society depends upon
  our ability to serve those who need us most.
• Patrick Jones, Hennepin County Library

33

• Serving the underserved is not only our
  responsibility
• it is an opportunity!

34
Reflections

• What barriers can you think of for people in your
  community?
• What is one thing you could do to respond to
  these barriers?
• What resources would you need to implement a
  change?

35
Your Questions
36
Gracias!

• René Bue - Bilingual Outreach Coordinator,
  Hedberg Public Libraryrbue_at_hedbergpubliclibrary.o
  rg
• Tammy Pineda - Madison SLIS student
• trpineda_at_gmail.com