Abigail E. CuffeyEmporia State University

AMERICAN LIBRARIES: PROMOTING CULTURE IN A DIVERSE WORLD

First, let’s talk about culture.

•When you think of the word “culture”, what sort of images, thoughts, or words come in mind?

What does culture really mean?• cul·ture [kuhl-cher] noun• 1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.• 2. that which is excellent in the arts, manners, etc.• 3. a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek culture.• 4. development or improvement of the mind by education or training.• 5. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.

Source: www.dictionary.com

The Hard Facts: Minority v. Majority• U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Shows America’s Diversity.• The non-Hispanic white alone population is still the largest, growing at

the slowest rate.• Hispanic and Asian populations are growing considerable (high levels of

immigrations).• More than half of the growth in the U.S. population between 2000 and

2010 was because of the increase in Hispanic population.• 2000-2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent (35.3 million to

50.5 million).• The 2010 Census reported that 1/2 of the U.S. population are

something other than non-Hispanic white alone (minority).• Particularly in the South and West, large portions of total population was

minority.• Between 2000 and 2010, Texas, California, the District of Columbia,

Hawaii, and New Mexico have a “minority-majority” population (more than 50% of the pop. was minority).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau News. (2010). 2010 Census Shows America’s Diversity. Retrieved from http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/cb11-cn125.html

Examples of Current Practices•Bilingual Early Literacy Stations (computer)•Bilingual story time•Multilingual chat in reference services•OCLC: language sets•AskColorado: 24/7 reference service chat in different languages: www.askcolorado.org

Creating a Welcoming Bilingual Library• http://bcove.me/v0bsjtj1

Bilingual Bookjoy• Author, poet, and literary activist Pat Mora was inspired by Mexico’s Dia

del Nino, a holiday that celebrates “children and their well-being”.• Mora decided to create a similar holiday in the U.S. and promote

bilingual literature.• Libraries in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas celebrated the first

Children’s Day on April 30, 1997.• US Department of Education says that 11 million school-age children

speak another language other than English at home.• “Library programs and celebrations must promote books that reflect our

national plurality and the many cultures represented in our communities”. • Example: Kenton County Public Library in Kentucky, volunteers read the

same book in multiple languages, page by page. Ask volunteers to translate, or demonstrate dances or teach salsa lessons.• This is a great opportunity to publicize library resources and offer

outreach services, develop partnerships within the community.Source: Larson, J. (2011). Building a culture of literacy through dia. American Libraries. Retrieved from http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org

Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora• Tomás is a son of migrant workers. Every

summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields. At night they gather around to hear Grandfather's wonderful stories. But before long, Tomás knows all the stories by heart. "There are more stories in the library," Papa Grande tells him.  The very next day, Tomás meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him. Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries--and education--can make possible.  Raul Colón's warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Tomás's life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian.  

Source: www.bn.com

A Cultural Listening Experience

Librarians v. Patrons: Intimidated?• http://www.patmora.com/resources.htm

Recognizing Cultural Differences• Public libraries are not a worldwide institution.•Male African patrons have problems with an all female staff.•African women have to ask their husbands to use the library.•Religious events on certain days.• In certain African cultures, men do not shake hands with women.

Source: Tetteh, B.(Date unknown). Serving African Immigrants in Colorado Public Libraries. Retrieved from http://coloradolibrariesjournal.org

Street Libraries• Started by the Fourth World Movement, international antipoverty organization founded in France in 1958•During the 1960s, FWM volunteers settled in NYC’s Lower East Side to study poverty•Created “outdoor classrooms” with crafts, books, games, computers, etc.• Everyone, no matter age, race, gender- has something to offer.•Volunteers knock on doors, establish trust in neighborhood.

Source: http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-17-spring-2000/street-smart

ALA Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users• ALA recognizes the “out-dated” term

Hispanics, instead using “Spanish-speaking” to encompass the language spoken by Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other nationalities.• Guidelines written by REFORMA, The National

Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.• REFORMA established in 1971, Black Caucus

of 1970, ALA roundtables (Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table)- all focused on multicultural information needs- http://mcreview.com/index.html• Current issues: Need for recruitment and retention

of a diverse library workforce, research on impact of services.

Source: Rubin, R. E. (2010). Foundations of library and information science. 3rd edition. NY, New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

1.0 Collection and Selection of Materials• Libraries should provide appropriate and culturally relevant materials.• Contain bilingual material, purchase from publishers in the countries representing major users in the community.• Be careful using translated works.• Bibliographic access to the collection should include Spanish subject headings in the library catalog.• Collect all formats, both print and non-print.• Work the community in acquiring and weeding the Spanish language collection.

Source: American Library Association. (2007). Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidespanish.cfm.

2.0 Programs, Services, and Community Relations• Create a community profile, use Census data, state government statistics, interviews with local leaders.• Provide bilingual user policies.• Provide access to digital format, Spanish language, government publications when available.

Source: American Library Association. (2007). Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/

3.0 Recruitment• Recruit Spanish speaking library personnel in all job classifications.• Provide diversity training for all staff (available online).

Source: American Library Association. (2007). Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/

4.0 Facilities• The library building, through its location, signage, architecture, and appearance, should be an attraction, not a barrier, to members of the Spanish speaking community.• Place comfortable seating near the Spanish collection.• Locate new library buildings to attract the target population.• ALA Report: Distance to nearest branch• Less then one mile: 10%• 1-3 miles: 51%• 4-6 miles: 21%• 7-9 miles: 6%• 10 or more miles: 12%

Source: American Library Association. (2007). Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidespanish.cfm.

Library Services for Immigrants•U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Institute of Museum and Library Services report on current practices.

Building Partnerships•Between libraries and immigrant-serving organizations to bridge the resource gap.•Government agencies for public assistance, employment, healthcare, legal advice, education and immigration.•Adult education providers, local universities, faith-based organizations, public school systems, social service agencies, refugee and resettlement organizations.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Institute for Museum and Library Services. Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices.

Collection Management•Form a subcommittee to help select immigrant material.•Consult with other libraries serving immigrants, focus groups.•Collection: ESL materials, citizenship resources, tutors, dictionaries in multiple languages, translated novels, how-to books, newspapers, music, videos in different languages.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Institute for Museum and Library Services. Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices.

Information Services•Have a user-friendly webpage, listing resources for immigrants. Example: http://www.hclib.org/NewImmigrants/•Translating the library’s webpage into the most commonly spoken languages.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Institute for Museum and Library Services. Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices.

Programs & Events•Community resources seminars, “American Issues” and civics discussion groups, cultural activities and holiday events, ESL classes, conversation-practice groups, free seminars by immigration lawyers, book clubs, voter education seminars, health seminars, family literacy programs, computer literacy programs.•Visiting with staff at refugee centers, participating in community events that reach out to immigrants.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Institute for Museum and Library Services. Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices.

Outreach Services•Recruit immigrants to serve on the library board, library tours for immigrant groups, roundtable discussions of issues, PSAs for local radio stations, bilingual brochures.

Mellon’s Theory of Library Anxiety• 1986: Constance Mellon, a professor of library science in North Carolina coined the term “library anxiety”.• Research showed that 75 to 80 percent of students feared the library.• Students were intimidated by the library size, lacked knowledge about where things were located, didn’t know where to start the research process, didn’t know what to do.• Students could not function effectively in the library, feelings of inferiority, source of shame, didn’t ask for help at the library.•Mellon suggested library anxiety should be recognized, anxious people should be provided with positive experiences.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellon's_Theory_of_Library_Anxiety

Reader’s Advisory for Immigrants:

• Little focus in Public Libraries on leisure reading.• Anxiety in the Reader’s Advisory interview.• Suggestions: Make no assumptions, get on a person level with the patron, don’t feel guilty about not knowing all the answers.• Be patient when conversing with an ESL patron.Source: Dali, K. (2010). Readers’ advisory interactions with immigrant readers. New Library World, 111(5/6), 213-222. doi:10.1108/03074801011044089

Current Research• Use of Public Libraries by Immigrants, Susan K. Burke (2008)• Immigrants consider the library neutral ground, seek to improve themselves and obtain materials for children.•Most influential factor in library use was how close patron was to the library.• Cultural unfamiliarity with libraries, low education and literacy levels, mistrust of government agencies, schedule conflicts, location issues, and silence rules.•High library use: South Asian, Southeast Asian, South American. Low use: European, Central American, Mexican, etc.

Source: Burke, S. K. (2008). Use of public libraries by immigrants. Reference & User Services Quartley, 48(2), 164-174.

Your Ideas!•What are your responses to these statistics?•Can you think of some other cultural programs for libraries?•Have you dealt with these issues in your library?

Questions?

Learning Groups/Learning Styles•Aural: Videos, listening•Social: Group involvement, discussion•Verbal: Slideshow presentation•Logical: Statistics, real-life examples

Sources• American Library Association. (2007). Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users.

Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidespanish.cfm.• American Library Association. (2008). Public library service to the nation’s linguistically isolated: an analysis

using the public library geographic database and US census data 2000. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/olos/nonenglishspeakers/docs/Linguistic_Isolation_Report-2007.pdf

• Author Unknown. (2000). Street Smart. Teaching Tolerance. Number 17. Retrieved from http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-17-spring-2000/street-smart.

• Burke, S. K. (2008). Use of public libraries by immigrants. Reference & User Services Quartley, 48(2), 164-174. (Course Reserve)

• Cloud, P. (2010). Public libraries to feature bilingual early literacy stations. Times Record. Retrieved from www.swtimes.com.

• Dali, K. (2010). Readers’ advisory interactions with immigrant readers. New Library World, 111(5/6), 213-222. doi:10.1108/03074801011044089 (Emerald Database)

• Erazo, E. & Guerena, S. (1996). Hispanic libraries celebrate 25 years with renewed commitment to diversity. American Libraries, 27(6), 77. (Academic OneFile Database)

• Larson, J. (2011). Building a culture of literacy through dia. American Libraries. Retrieved from http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org

• Public library overcomes language barriers to support diversifying population. Retrieved from www.oclc.org/languagesets/

• Tetteh, B.(Date unknown). Serving African Immigrants in Colorado Public Libraries. Retrieved from http://coloradolibrariesjournal.org

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Institute for Museum and Library Services. Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices.

• U.S. Census Bureau News. (2010). 2010 Census Shows America’s Diversity. Retrieved from http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/cb11-cn125.html

• Websites:• www.wikipedia.com• www.patmora.com• www.askcolorado.org• www.dictionary.com