Thread: Libraries adding Spanish to their repertoire

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Libraries adding Spanish to repertoire

Changing population prompts adjustment

By SUMMER HARLOW, The News Journal

Posted Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Every week Judith Montilla visits La Biblioteca del Pueblo, Wilmington's Spanish-language library, to check out books for the 16 4-year-olds in her preschool class.

On Friday she was in search of new year-themed stories.

"I have some students who speak only English, and some who speak only Spanish, so I try to get the same books in both English and Spanish," said Montilla, who teaches at La Fiesta II Early Childhood Assistance Program. "If I read only English, they wouldn't understand, so I read in Spanish, too, so they'll get interested and learn to enjoy reading."

With Spanish language collections like La Biblioteca's hard to come by, it's a challenge to get Spanish speakers interested in the library, say librarians across the country.

So this month the Delaware Division of Libraries is beginning a series of nine workshops to train librarians throughout the state how to better reach out to and serve the Spanish-speaking community.

The first workshop in the Spanish Language Outreach Program, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is Jan. 23 at Seaford District Library.

"Hispanics are the largest minority, and if we're going to live in a diverse society, we need to be able to serve them," said Kathy Graybeal, coordinator of the Spanish outreach program and administrative librarian for the state Division of Libraries.

The U.S. immigrant population has reached a record 33.5 million people, or 12 percent of the population. In 2005, 11.5 percent of Delaware's population, or 87,966 people, spoke a language other than English at home.

That ranks Delaware as 23rd in the country for percentage of people who don't speak English at home.

With so many non-English speakers, libraries play a crucial role in educating and providing resources for new immigrants, Graybeal said.

"We're an information clearinghouse," she said.

As the number of Hispanics continues to surge, libraries across the country have begun offering English as a second language, literacy, health and tutoring programs; immigration, tax and legal assistance; computer classes; voter registration drives; and multicultural events.

"New immigrants are settling outside of traditional gateway cities where there are fewer resources to facilitate integration," according to a 2006 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services report on library services for immigrants. "Thus, there is an even greater role for public libraries in welcoming and educating immigrants."

Sarah Cruz, the Spanish outreach library specialist at La Biblioteca, said she's not sure what it will take to bring in more Spanish-speaking patrons -- most of whom come to use the Internet, she said.

'A lifestyle change'

La Biblioteca del Pueblo, on the second floor of Wilmington's Latin American Community Center, is home to the state's largest Spanish-language public library collection -- about 5,000 adult and children books.

The library sees about 1,000 users a month, Cruz said. The children's books and English as a second language materials are among the most popular items, she said.

"I don't think everybody knows about us," Cruz said. "Libraries are private in a lot of other countries; they're not free. So it's a lifestyle change to get people in the habit of going to libraries to seek out information."

Delaware is one of 42 states to participate in the Spanish outreach training program.

As part of the workshops, a panel of Hispanic community leaders will help library staff members understand what Spanish speakers are looking for.

"How do we let them know about our services? How do we establish trust?" said Jill DiPaolo, a program trainer and administrative librarian for the Division of Libraries. "It's unrealistic to say we'll all learn to speak Spanish, but by bringing in Hispanic leaders, we can establish relationships and they can act as our mouthpieces, our supporters."

After the training, libraries will put together implementation plans, said Elaine Fike, a program trainer and director of Georgetown Public Library.

"We'll start with baby steps, such as getting signage in Spanish," she said, or starting conversation circles where people can practice their English or Spanish skills while discussing cultural, political or timely topics.

Another step would be to expand the Spanish-language book, video, music and periodical selection, Graybeal said.

Also, DiPaolo said, she is building a best-seller list of Latin American works that are considered classics in other countries.

Graybeal called the training sessions a "fact-finding mission."

"It's important we ask people what they want before we invest," she said.

Cruz, one of a handful of bilingual library staff members across the state, said since she started at La Biblioteca in 2000, the demand for Spanish-language resources has risen steadily.

She said people routinely come from outside Wilmington, seeking out La Biblioteca's Spanish materials and bilingual staff.

"When I first started we hardly had anybody coming in, and there were days when not a book would go out," Cruz said. "Now I can't remember the last time we didn't have a book go out."

Contact Summer Harlow at 324-2794 or sharlow@delawareonline.com.

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This is another example of catering to the Hispanics so they don't have to learn English. If there were no Spanish books it would give them some incentive to learn English. I am sick of seeing everything offered to them in Spanish. In Miami we actually have English TV channels that have translations in Spanish for popular TV shows.
At Christmas time I used to see some cards stores have cards in several languauges but out of the ethnic cards there were more Hispanic. Now there is a huge section of Hispanic ones and very few other non English ones. Before they had to go to their stores to have a large selection of them.

This is another example of catering to the Hispanics so they don't have to learn English. If there were no Spanish books it would give them some incentive to learn English.

That is exactly the way I see it as well. They can offer all the "free" English as a second language classes they want but really, what's the point, when at the same time they are effectively removing all the incentive's for spanish speakers to take them.

I believe there is another, more insidious, reason why the open borders lobby and pro-hispanic groups are discouraging spanish speakers from learning english....good jobs aplenty for the anchor babies entering the job market. Indeed, a few weeks ago there was an article in the paper regarding the huge and growing demand for bi-lingual employees. Some of those interviewed had recieved not only hiring bonuses but also free training/schooling despite lacking the credientials their non-spanish speaking counterparts had to have to secure those same jobs.

What would America be like today if all the immigrants from Europe refused to speak English? It would be a chaotic mess. Well that is what is going to happen if we don't make English the National Language and require these Hispanics to use it. Spanish as a second language fine, but English as the sole National language.

Some of those interviewed had recieved not only hiring bonuses but also free training/schooling despite lacking the credientials their non-spanish speaking counterparts had to have to secure those same jobs.

That's what I'm seeing. More and more jobs in which citizens are trained and have experience and the ONLY reason they don't get it is they don't speak Spanish. They are bi-lingual but the second language or even the first...isn't Spanish. I could tolerate the "competition" if language was the ONLY deciding factor. But they are hiring because of language ONLY and giving them free education. There's not a well you're more qualified so we'll offer free Spanish classes.......Nothing like job security for your people only. Many don't even want Spanish speakers ,they want just hispanics. I don't see a "representation" of all the other members of our society in all the jobs. I don't see angry letters "demanding" there be more Korean police officers, or Arab firefighters.

When they had some specials on TV etc. for the best jobs for 2007....and when the president talked of jobs in this country......we have become a "service" society. Whether it be nursing or customer service or secretary any job dealing with serving the public. That is the jobs I see here. Most don't pay squat but everyone is "must speak Spanish" You can't even go in factories and ask a co-worker a question because they just speak Spanish. I'm finding this a very disturbing trend since it certainly doesn't seem to be a "temporary" situation while we wait for them to assimilate. This doesn't seem to be an historic equal to where the immigrants are adjusting to America.....but one in which America is being forced to "assimilate" to 1 immigrant group.

"If I read only English, they wouldn't understand, so I read in Spanish, too, so they'll get interested and learn to enjoy reading."

When I was 10, and learned English, I was READ TO IN ENGLISH! I had no problem learning English---it's my second language!

Pandering to these Spanish DROP-OUTS is tantamount to affirming the separitism espoused by the Latin Community. In addition, it reinforces the attitude that "you should accomodate" those that are UNWILLING TO LEARN AND INTEGRATE!

I find it offensive, reprehensible, and an affront to my efforts at integration and assimilation to be subjected to this dual language IDIOCY and pandering time and time again!

Let them all rot if they refuse to learn English! Let them drop out and fail! Let them stand around and be ignorant! Let them flounder and fall! It is their stupidity for not learning the language of the land! If they cannot speak proper English, then deport them for their IDIOCY!

I started school not speaking English. My parents both spoke English but wanted me to speak their languages. There was no English as a second language and you had to sink or swim in the classroom. In fact I almost failed grade one but I was very determined to pass. My teacher saw that and helped during reccess every day. I passed and by the time I reached grade 5 they wanted to skip me a grade.
Those days are long gone as the non English speakers in the schools now get a free ride in Miami. Their course work is the same as the rest of the kids but they get higher grades than English speaking kids. This is due to teacher's lieniency and this is grossly unfair to the rest of our kids.

I was at the Military Exchange last week, and while browsing the Video/DVD section of the store, I was rather surprised to find an entire section devoted to Spanish Language Movies.

R/ Skip

As the number of Hispanics continues to surge, libraries across the country have begun offering English as a second language,

As much as I love the spanish language I had to "Reset" my brain when I read this. English should be taught as the primary language in this country. When I was a kid I had to go to my elementary school and then get on a bus to travel half way accross town to a bilingual class that the county had for the kids. Even though I did not know much english at the time I hated being treated differently. The other kids would always ask me why I had to leave the regular school to go to the classes and I did not know what to tell them. Possibly some idiot back then thought it was a good Idea. I did this for two years. It only confused me more than anything. If you want your children to speak spanish let them practice at home. When they leave the house have them speak english. Don't treat them like they have a learning dissability. Most young kids that speak only spanish will learn english fast if you leave them alone to get along with everyone else. The emphasis should be in teaching them english!

I'm bi-lingual and I speak mostly english. I have no problem with people that speak spanish but thats because I understand what they are saying.
One should always consider those that are around you and make sure you do not offend. If you are in a bilingual atmosphere than I think it is o.k. to speak in english and spanish.

Community leaders should not be involved in school curriculum. We do not want political agendas in our school system. The school board should decide what material these children should be reading.
Another one of those things wrong in our country.

I don't mind people speaking other languages in their own home or ethnic community but I was taught that it was rude to do so in public. English is not my first language and I speak 3 languages fluently. I avoided speaking any of them in public but for the last several months when my daughter and I hear Spanish spoken we speak Russian. They hate it and give us dirty looks and we have even been told we are rude. I just tell them that I am doing what they are doing; speaking my first language. This is what they need. A wake up call. I have a friend who has recently moved here from California and her husband is Hispanic. He often would speak Spanish to his friends in front of her. She would complain. He only realized it and how rude it is when he had to go on a job and the people there were Hiatians who spoke Kreyol. When he came home he told his wife about it. She explained to him that it what she experiences when he speaks Spanish to his friends. He has almost completely stopped that behavior.