Gates Library Grant Initiative

Spanish Language Outreach Program
Partnering with the Gates Foundation and WebJunction

The New York State Library is participating in a joint WebJunction / Gates Library Foundation national program to promote library outreach to Spanish-speaking populations. The State Library is partnering with the Mid-Hudson Library System, the New York Library Association, the New York State Association of Library Boards and the Public Library System Directors Organization to implement this national project in New York State.

What is the Spanish Language Outreach Program?

The Spanish Language Outreach Program is a professional development program that will offer 48 workshops across New York State for some 800 library staff members and trustees. Those attending the workshops will learn how to reach out to Spanish speakers and how to improve their access to library services and public access computing. More information about this exciting national program can be found at the WebJunction's Spanish Language Outreach Program web site .

Workshops

Through May 2007, the public library system trainers offered one-day workshops for staff from all kinds of libraries and library trustees. The workshops included panels of Spanish-speaking community leaders. Workshop participants will select and implement three activities from the "Outreach Activities List" for their local community within the first five months after the workshop.

Participants

Brooklyn Public Library Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Mid-Hudson Library System Mid-York Library System Monroe County Library System Nassau Library System

The New York Public Library Nioga Library System (partnering with Chautauqua Cattaraugus Library System) Onondaga County Public Library Pioneer Library System Ramapo-Catskill Library System Suffolk Cooperative Library System

What Some Trainers are Saying about the Workshops

We had participants including librarians, information assistants, and clerical staff. They were all extremely energetic and showed much enthusiasm at the workshop. Hector Horta, The New York Public Library

The community panel was the highlight of the day. All three panelists made several contacts with librarians for future collaboration. Jean Kaleda, Patchogue-Medford Library & Suffolk Cooperative Library System

I was extremely pleased by how much group discussion occurred….I saw a lot of change over the course of a day. Kim Iraci, Pioneer Library System

System and Trainer Information and Resources

Fact Sheet

What are the Goals of the Spanish Language Outreach Program?

• Improve attitudes, and increase knowledge and skills of local library staff and trustees who work with Spanish-speaking residents.
• Increase the number of library activities directed at reaching and serving Spanish-speaking residents.
• Increase partnerships between local libraries and community organizations that serve Spanish-speaking residents.
• Increase awareness and use of local library services including public access computing in the Hispanic community.
• Continue to build the Spanish Language Outreach online community at WebJunction.org

What can Library Staff and Trustees who attend a training session expect to learn?

• Best library outreach practices for Spanish-speaking populations.
• How to connect with representatives from community agencies that serve Spanish speakers.
• How to conduct a community leader interview.
• How to develop a library action plan to reach out to the Spanish-speaking community with the goal of increasing use of library resources and public computers
• Use of WebJunction.org.
• Ways to share workshop experiences with co-workers.
• How to participate in WebJunction's evaluation process through surveys and self-assessment tools.

New York State's Spanish-Speaking Population -- Statistics

Please contact Cassie Artale, Library Development Specialist, New York State Library, Division of Library Development at 518-474-1479 or e-mail cartale@mail.nysed.gov if you have any questions.

Last modified on September 25, 2008 -- asm
For questions or comments contact Cassie Artale
URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/gateslib/spanish/index.html