What kind of activities should we engage in
to Outreach the Latino Community?
Offer Bilingual Storytimes
If you don’t already have bilingual staff that can provide this, you might be able to recruit a parent or other volunteer that can work together with your staff. Here are some tips about presenting bilingual storytimes from the 2007 Texas Summer Reading Program chapter that I wrote: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/trc/2007/manual/biling.html
This manual as well as others in prior years, have several “ready made” bilingual storytimes, which you can use as a starting point to present these.
Organize a "buddy Program"
a tutoring program where older kids can tutor younger kids at the library. This requires a bit of planning, and perhaps some connections with the school could help at getting this launched.
Perform outreach at school and church events
Attend back to school nights and provide information on library events, and give them an opportunity to sign up for library cards. Churches sometimes have annual carnivals or “Jamaicas”. Participate in these by being present and bringing information about your services.
Network with community agencies
If there are some community groups that work with the Latino population, you can contact them and offer the Library as a meeting place. This will also help the parents to feel “safe” in a library environment, and enable them to come back later out of their own desire.
Contact ESL providers and offer their classes a tour of your library
or better yet, give them a space at your library where they can conduct their classes.
Celebrate a Latino Centered Event at your library
Día de los niños ~ Día de los libros (Nationally celebrated on April 30th, though some libraries celebrate it the last Saturday of April).
Cinco de Mayo (May 5th -- commemorates the “Batalla de Puebla, marking the victory of the Mexican Army over the French Invadors).
National Hispanic Heritage Month – September 15- October 15. (Mexico’s independence day falls on September 16, and most other Latin American Countries celebrate Independence Days around this time period).
Advertise your programs and services
Local Media
Enlist the help of the local Media, TV, Radio Stations and newspapers. Ask them to run PSAs and if you have someone in staff that could provide an interview, ask the media for an interview so that they can tell the audience all that the library has to offer. This can be done at any time of the year, or to highlight a special program that you are having.
School Cooperation
In Austin Schools they have a person who works with parents of the students, called the Parent-Teacher specialist. We have found out that this person is a great ally in our cause. In the past we have also partnered with school librarians to help pass out the word about the Public Library Programs.
Churches
Put out flyers on the Sunday bulletin.
All of this takes time and lots of patience. Word of mouth is the best tool of all, but it doesn’t happen overnight. Be Persistant and know that it will pay off in the end.
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