Customer Service and Community and Patron Awareness
Event Description
Providing Library access to English Language Learners (ELL) can be much more than developing your foreign language and ESL collections. Those learning English can have more pressing information needs and all staff can play a part in creating a welcoming environment. Keep ESL patrons coming back (hint, it’s not just the free services but the new connections and relationships they make at the Library) and provide programming opportunities for the entire community to engage.
Learning objectives:
How to effectively welcome the ELL community into the Library using best practices in outreach
How to engage ELL patrons with staff encounters, signage, relevant programming, collections and volunteerism
Learn about grant funding and potential community partnerships
Presenter:
Ginger Hofstetter developed a variety of impactful and innovative Spanish language programs as Spanish Language Outreach and Programming Coordinator during her time at Perry Public Library and Ashtabula County District Library and translated Guiding Ohio Online’s technology training materials into Spanish for the State Library of Ohio. Her most recent projects are ELL Guide and Residential Houseparent for international boarding students at Hershey Montessori Farm School and as a freelancer providing individual casework for English Language Learners. Ginger studied Humanities at a Mexican university and has conducted business internationally.