America has always been a nation of immigrants, and many school libraries serve students whose first language is not English. In AASL's 2009 "School Libraries Count! Survey," 14% of the 5,824 respondents reported a student population with 25% or more English language learners. Yet 91% reported that less than 5% of their collections are…

Public libraries in the United States have a long history of providing resources and education to immigrants. This tradition may be traced to Andrew Carnegie's support for public libraries as a place for immigrant self-education, enlightenment, and the study of democracy and English. This role is especially relevant today as the immigrant…

Encouraging literacy and academic success among English language learners (ELLs) is becoming an increasingly common challenge for educators. In the course of the authors work of training teachers or providing training for implementation of materials, they have found that the resources of the school library media center are invaluable for helping…

This digest summarizes the history of public libraries and library literacy programs; describes current delivery models; and discusses initiatives in library literacy, profiling one successful public library program that serves adult English language learners and their families. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education) (Author/VWL)

Traces the evolution of the Queens Borough Public Library's New Americans Project and describes its multifaceted approach in assisting immigrants to adjust to their new environment, including: (1) foreign-language collections; (2) English as a second language courses; (3) coping skills training; and (4) cultural programing. Seventeen references…

Examines library-based literacy programs. Topics discussed include changes over the past eight years; current statistics; the relationship between libraries and literacy; advantages of using libraries for literacy programs, including social neutrality; immigrant populations and English as a Second Language; intergenerational family programs; and…

Proposes that librarians and teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) form partnerships, and describes roles and suggested activities of librarians and teachers in such a partnership. ESL collection development is discussed, covering funding, selection, foreign language materials, nonprint materials, and the professional collection. (11…

Libraries have played an important role in developing and operating programs which enhance English-language skills and ease assimilation into U.S. society. This report presents descriptions of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) grants which funded library programs and projects benefitting individuals with limited English-speaking…

Describes the universality of the student immigrant experience, the acculturation process, the librarians's role in regard to immigrant populations, and successful school and public library responses to the challenges posed by school-age immigrant children. Library programs and services dealing with second- and third-generation immigrants, guest…

This final performance report for the Libraries of Middlesex literacy project begins with a section that compares actual accomplishments to the following objectives for 1992-93: (1) recruit and enroll at least 150 new volunteers in Basic Reading of English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor training; (2) have at least 125 volunteers successfully…

This final performance report describes Project FLASH (Family Learning Action Starts Here), a literacy project of the Fitchburg (Massachusetts) Public Library designed to provide opportunities for parents to improve their own basic skills while at the same time enhancing their ability to provide literacy-based activities to their children. The…

This final performance report for the Alameda County (California) ESOL (English as a Second Language) project begins with a section that provides quantitative data. The next section compares actual accomplishments to the following project goals: (1) survey programs, including library collections, adult schools, and community colleges, to gain…

This final performance report for the Eagle Valley Library District literacy project begins with a section that provides quantitative data. The next section compares actual accomplishments to the following objectives for 1992-93: (1) design and implement a literacy program that provides instruction to adults who wish to develop or improve reading,…

Defines at-risk adolescent students, including remedial readers, pregnant teenagers, handicapped students, speakers of English as a Second Language, and public library dropouts; and describes literacy programs that enhance self-esteem and establish the library as an alternative learning source, many developed in a literacy course at the University…

Describes programs at the Redwood City Public Library (California), winner of the Library of the Year Award from Gale Research Inc. and "Library Journal." Highlights include a newly renovated building; a mission statement that reflects the library's role; staff development; increases in circulation and reference; children's services; and…