Southfield Public Library Southfield, Michigan http://www.sfldlib.org Population Served: 80,000 Language other than English: 17.3% Project Contact: Katie Ester Project Title: American Dream @ SPL Literacy Initiative Project Description: We have used our American Dream grant (and our pledge of matching funds) to fund several projects. First, we have purchased language learning software called Tell Me More by Auralog. This is a multi-media, fully integrated language learning software that includes English as well as six other languages. It is available in the library at all of our public access computers as well as two planned dedicated stations with fully functional headphone and microphone capabilities. Tell Me More is also available remotely to cardholders.

Notable accomplishment, promising practices, or human interest stories: We have been so pleased with many of our initiatives:

• Interest in and attendance of our English Conversation Groups
• Rise in circulation numbers of our Literacy Collection

Human interest story: After several sessions of our English Conversation group, one attendee, Esther, asked at the end of the session if she could practice a speech in front of me and the other attendees. Esther is a volunteer at the Holocaust Memorial Center and acts as a living history docent. As such, she tells museum goers her story of surviving a horrific childhood in a concentration camp. She practiced recounting her story to us in heavily accented but carefully chosen English.  There were not many dry eyes in the group and I felt so proud of her ability to tell her own story and educate others.

Key lessons learned:

• The key to a successful English Conversation group is just getting people in the door. The lesson plans and activities will prove less of an issue than just getting people to come regularly.
• Test all new software extensively with your library’s level of security, software and internet speed. Testing it remotely is also a good idea, but do not substitute testing it at another site for testing it real time at your own facility.

Advice for other libraries serving adult English language learners:

• New residents of this country are bombarded with paperwork. Have a business card handy with hours of your library, pertinent phone numbers and website printed on it. Business cards are important in many cultures and are way more likely to get put into a wallet or purse rather than lost or thrown out like a pamphlet.
• One piece of advice I was given at a conference years ago was extremely helpful. In order to “break through” to a new community or culture, it helps to identify and meet with their “elders.” Elders are defined as respected members of the community that have influence on the community at large. Wooing an elder, or inviting a group of elders for a tour and snack can make a huge difference in how the community will come to view or understand your library.
• Try to identify potential communities/cultures you may have overlooked in your service area. For instance, pay attention to service workers. Who is working the register at your local McDonalds? Your service area may be home to many day workers who live in adjacent communities but are eligible cardholders and in need of your ESL services. Take notice of admission trends at your local universities. One local university in our area just signed a large initiative to work with a university in Saudi Arabia to allow Saudi students to study abroad. A huge new opportunity for the library!