LATI Project Brochure
MY GOAL
Is to provide a location in the library with information written in Spanish for Spanish speaking patrons.
A designated area would become a familiar place for Spanish speakers to go directly to, and for library staff to have as an immediate point of reference. A table with information written in Spanish would save patrons and library staff considerable time as well as provide an effective and efficient service.
Fliers, brochures, booklets, and bilingual newspapers, would inform patrons of library, community, state, and federal programs and services.
These materials would be produced by library staff, community groups and government agencies. Materials would include such things as tax information and US Dept. of Education brochures on FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid).
This service will help Spanish speakers
feel welcome and direct them to agencies that could meet their social, economic, educational, legal, and health needs.
SUMMARY-- HOW IT ALL BEGAN
When Spanish speaking patrons asked for information about library programs and services, I found myself rushing from one end of the library to another gathering information I had translated. I found this hide-and-seek activity embarrassing and a waste of time. I also realized these patrons were unaware of the availability of these materials. I concluded the library was in desperate need of a spot designated for information written in Spanish.
I decided to expand on what we offered by including information from community groups and government agencies.
I based this decision on questions such as, “Where can I go to enroll in an ESL (English as a Second Language) class?”
“I don’t have dental insurance and need dental care, who can I contact?”
I performed research, organized lists, communicated my intentions, and requested information written in Spanish.
STEPS TAKEN TO ACCOMPLISH GOAL
I spoke with my supervisor and co-workers about the idea of having a table with information written in Spanish.
I used the Delaware Hispanic Yellow Pages, El Tiempo Hispano (local bilingual newspaper), the New Castle County website, Library Health Specialist, Susan LaValley, and my own personal list of sources to create a list of agencies to contact.
I formed two lists. One of agencies and one of patron needs. I divided the agency list under different jurisdictions such as community, federal and so on. I divided the needs list into health, legal and so on. I then combined the two to assure agencies and needs corresponded.
I emailed some groups and phoned others, stated my intentions, and requested 50 to 100 copies of what they had. Not all had information written in Spanish, such as the Christiana School District.
As more agencies produce information written in Spanish, I will add these to our table. I will also contact sources to replenish materials when they run low.
Display: I obtained a card size table with a pegboard and placed them by the entrance of the children’s room, where the display can be easily seen when patrons enter the library. I created a colorful, eye-catching, big letter sign and placed it across the top of the pegboard. INFORMATE, (get informed) it reads.
Equipment used: Clear multi-sided, multi-tiered, plastic holders, and a floor spinner. I did not need to purchase materials.
I filled the plastic holders with materials mailed to the library. I took photos of the display and of our Spanish language materials.
RESOURCES
Library Manager, Susan Menson, Children’s Librarian, Tanya Moye, Library Specialist, Ross Fuller, Library Health Specialist, Susan LaValley.
Agencies include: DE Coalition for Literacy, Inc., New Castle Head Start, Inc.,
Community Legal Aid Society, American
Cancer Society, National Institute of Aging, Wilmington Dept. of Police, IRS, US Dept. of Education, Christiana School District, Christiana EVAN START Family Literacy, El Tiempo Hispano (bilingual newspaper), The Latin American Community Center, local health groups such as DE Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc., and Westside Health Clinic.
WHAT I LEARNED
I was reminded patience is a virtue. Although I received responses from the majority of the groups I contacted, I haven’t heard from others. I re-learned I can be creative, persistent, organized, and I can easily picture what I need and what I want. I also found it rewarding to be able to materialize my ideas.
PROJECT SCORE
I give myself a 9.9. I’m please with the service I have created and hope patrons
find it educating and empowering.
Adriana Camacho-Church
Bear Library
New Castle County http://www.nccdelib.org/
March 2007
INFORMATE
Information written in Spanish
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
LATI 30 SECOND TV COMMERCIAL
Adriana Camacho-Church
Bear Library
New Castle County
Project Title: INFORMATE (Get Informed)
Information in Spanish
Description: A table with information written in Spanish for Spanish speaking patrons. Fliers, brochures, booklets, and bilingual newspapers, inform patrons of library, community, state, and federal programs and services.
COMMERCIAL:
A Spanish speaking patron with limited English skills walks into a library.
She walks toward the reference desk with a determined face.
“ESL (English as a Second Language) class?” she asks annunciating each letter and word.
“Do you speak Spanish?” asks the librarian with a smile.
“Yes,” says the patron.
The reference librarian stands up and walks with the patron to a table where a big, colorful sign hangs across the top of a pegboard. INFORMATE (get informed) reads the sign.
The patron looks surprised and pleased.
The librarian hands her a blue bookmark with a list of phone numbers and names of places that offer free ESL classes in the area.
The patron smiles and says, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” says the librarian.
The librarian walks away.
The patron looks at and takes other information.
Later on that day, the patron meets a girl friend for lunch.
“I now know where to go for a mammogram exam and I know how Arturo can sign up for financial aid,” said the patron in Spanish, as she pulls out two brochures from her purse.
“Where did you get these?” her friend asks in Spanish.
“A friendly librarian at the Bear Library showed me a table with information written in Spanish. Fliers, brochures, booklets, and bilingual newspapers, inform patrons of library, community, state, and federal programs and services.
“What a great idea! Said the friend, “I’ll have to stop by and check it out.”
END
Adriana Camacho-Church
Bear Library
New Castle County
Project Title: INFORMATE (Get Informed)
Information in Spanish
Description: A table with information written in Spanish for Spanish speaking patrons. Fliers, brochures, booklets, and bilingual newspapers, inform patrons of library, community, state, and federal programs and services.
COMMERCIAL:
A Spanish speaking patron with limited English skills walks into a library.
She walks toward the reference desk with a determined face.
“ESL (English as a Second Language) class?” she asks annunciating each letter and word.
“Do you speak Spanish?” asks the librarian with a smile.
“Yes,” says the patron.
The reference librarian stands up and walks with the patron to a table where a big, colorful sign hangs across the top of a pegboard. INFORMATE (get informed) reads the sign.
The patron looks surprised and pleased.
The librarian hands her a blue bookmark with a list of phone numbers and names of places that offer free ESL classes in the area.
The patron smiles and says, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” says the librarian.
The librarian walks away.
The patron looks at and takes other information.
Later on that day, the patron meets a girl friend for lunch.
“I now know where to go for a mammogram exam and I know how Arturo can sign up for financial aid,” said the patron in Spanish, as she pulls out two brochures from her purse.
“Where did you get these?” her friend asks in Spanish.
“A friendly librarian at the Bear Library showed me a table with information written in Spanish. Fliers, brochures, booklets, and bilingual newspapers, inform patrons of library, community, state, and federal programs and services.
“What a great idea! Said the friend, “I’ll have to stop by and check it out.”
END
Monday, March 26, 2007
LATI STANDS FOR
Library Associate Training Institute.
The journey began August 2006 and ended in March 2007.
The journey began August 2006 and ended in March 2007.
LATI IS
a training program for library staff.
Staff is taught how to use web and print tools, techniques, and information for personal and professional growth.
Students evaluate, analyze, explore, and reflect on, print, electronic, audio, video, and expert human resources to develop research strategies, to identify specific resources for finding information, and to select and collect the most effective and most reliable library resources.
Staff is taught how to enhance customer service through effective communication and behavior.
Staff is taught how to keep-up-to-date with an ever changing digital world that has made our jobs in the 21 century more efficient and yet more challenging. We explored digital audio and e-books, podcast sites and blogs. Learned about iPods, mp3s, and came face to face with such acronyms as PDF (portable document format).
Staff is taught how to use web and print tools, techniques, and information for personal and professional growth.
Students evaluate, analyze, explore, and reflect on, print, electronic, audio, video, and expert human resources to develop research strategies, to identify specific resources for finding information, and to select and collect the most effective and most reliable library resources.
Staff is taught how to enhance customer service through effective communication and behavior.
Staff is taught how to keep-up-to-date with an ever changing digital world that has made our jobs in the 21 century more efficient and yet more challenging. We explored digital audio and e-books, podcast sites and blogs. Learned about iPods, mp3s, and came face to face with such acronyms as PDF (portable document format).
IN THE BEGINNING
Instructors asked students to select a quote that would reflect our thoughts and intentions through our LATI training.
“Learning without thought is labor lost.” Confucius.
I picked this quote because it is a simple truth. If we don’t stop to take the time to think about what we’re learning and how it fits into the scheme of things, then it doesn’t become part of us, part of our knowledge, and part of our truth. At times I rush through what I’m doing just to get it out of the way and move on to whatever else needs to get done. This usually leads to a waste of time, unnecessary mistakes, and little or no knowledge.
Confucius’ quote reminds me to be, to slow down, to learn, to absorb.
“Learning without thought is labor lost.” Confucius.
I picked this quote because it is a simple truth. If we don’t stop to take the time to think about what we’re learning and how it fits into the scheme of things, then it doesn’t become part of us, part of our knowledge, and part of our truth. At times I rush through what I’m doing just to get it out of the way and move on to whatever else needs to get done. This usually leads to a waste of time, unnecessary mistakes, and little or no knowledge.
Confucius’ quote reminds me to be, to slow down, to learn, to absorb.
MISSION STATEMENT
It’s very important for me to provide services and programs that make a difference in improving lives. I like to inspire people to strive for their goals.
One of LATI’s early assignments included reading Daniel H. Pink’s book, “A Whole New Mind.” The book examines the importance of using the creative and imaginative side of our brain, the right side, to explore ways to compete in a twenty-first century global economy.
In his book, Pink asks, “What is professional success?”
To me it means to make a positive difference in someone’s life through the work I do. It means to get satisfaction and enjoyment from what I do, to become an expert in my field, to accomplish my goals, to get rewarded and recognized for what I do, and to get paid well.
One of LATI’s early assignments included reading Daniel H. Pink’s book, “A Whole New Mind.” The book examines the importance of using the creative and imaginative side of our brain, the right side, to explore ways to compete in a twenty-first century global economy.
In his book, Pink asks, “What is professional success?”
To me it means to make a positive difference in someone’s life through the work I do. It means to get satisfaction and enjoyment from what I do, to become an expert in my field, to accomplish my goals, to get rewarded and recognized for what I do, and to get paid well.
LATI FINAL PROJECT
To creat a service or product to enhance our patron’s library experience. Being a creative person, loving color, and begin receptive to people’s needs, the right side of my brain kicked into full gear. Many ideas crossed my mind and I visualized each one of them, but one took hold and that’s the one I concentrated on. For the project to take root I needed to communicate my idea effectively and persuasively. I had to make sure that those whose help I would seek would not only see my vision, but see how this idea could benefit their group as well. I also had to make my project attractive and noticeable, and most importantly this project had to be something that would educate and empower people.
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