The New American Model
Fred Gitner and Younshin Kim, librarians from the Queens Borough Public Library, presented "Reaching Immigrant Populations: Serving the Culturally & Linguistically Diverse: The New Americans Program Model" at the Annual 2005 New York Library Association (NYLA) Meeting in Buffalo, NY.
I learned that the Queens Borough is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. The Queens Library has developed the a variety of Citizenship and Immigrant services, including the New American Program to attract members of various ethnic groups to the library. This program "was established in 1977 to provide special services to the area’s many new immigrants. "
Also the library's website is available in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese and Korean. This is another service they provide to reach immigrant populations.
The library also does a variety of community out reach programs. They provide meeting space for special presentations for ethnic and cultural community groups. During these presentations a member of the library staff will start the presentation by informing the audience about the services of the library, how to apply for a library card with the emphasis that the card is free. Many are unaware that the card is free of cost and this has prevented them from using the library.
Check out their website http://www.queenslibrary.org/ and see all the services available. Can you incorporate some of these great ideas into your library? What can you do to attract those from various cultures and ethnic backgrounds into the library?
I learned that the Queens Borough is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. The Queens Library has developed the a variety of Citizenship and Immigrant services, including the New American Program to attract members of various ethnic groups to the library. This program "was established in 1977 to provide special services to the area’s many new immigrants. "
Also the library's website is available in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese and Korean. This is another service they provide to reach immigrant populations.
The library also does a variety of community out reach programs. They provide meeting space for special presentations for ethnic and cultural community groups. During these presentations a member of the library staff will start the presentation by informing the audience about the services of the library, how to apply for a library card with the emphasis that the card is free. Many are unaware that the card is free of cost and this has prevented them from using the library.
Check out their website http://www.queenslibrary.org/ and see all the services available. Can you incorporate some of these great ideas into your library? What can you do to attract those from various cultures and ethnic backgrounds into the library?
I chose The Queens Library site for one of my annotations. It is a really great site, I'm so gald you talk about it on your blog. NYC Public Libraries are so culturally rich. Love the look of your blog, cool collage!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:42 AM, November 17, 2005
Hey this reminds me of that recent news report I saw where a library in Colorado was putting Spanish-language books into their collection in a effort to help their high Mexican immigration population. Of course, they were, as a library serving their population/patrons - something all good library's should do. Fox News did a story about it with such wonderful quotes as this ""Somebody has an agenda that says 'you all can come on over and we'll change our library system for you and we'll do it at taxpayer expense,'" said Fred Ebel of the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform." They are insane... Unfortunately the Denver Public Library pulled the materials off the shelves. Very sad.
Posted by
Ally Malinenko |
8:31 AM, November 19, 2005