Programs, Services, Classes, & Workshops
Libraries across the country are finding new ways to provide literacy services to their adult English Language Learners. Use this information as you plan programs at your own library!

Colorado: Biblioteca Publica de Denver en Línea / Denver Public Library Online

Patrons can find online information in Spanish on English Language Acquisition and GED classes, as well as resources on employment, library services, education, health, immigration, and bilingual volunteers.

Florida: Bibliotecas del Sudeste de la Florida / Southeast Libraries of Florida

This site provides a variety of virtual library services in Spanish, including enhanced access to 25 member libraries and library systems in the five-county Southeast Florida Region. Library staff can also sign up for courses and events on topics such as multicultural literacy, information literacy, customer service, and more.

Illinois: ESL Services: Arlington Heights Memorial Library

This library’s Literacy Office provides many services to its adult English Language Learners, including a multimedia ESL collection; computer learning; one-on-one conversation; adult literacy classes; and links to English learning activities online.

Non-English Resources: North Suburban Library System

This consortium of over 650 academic, public, school, and special libraries in Illinois has compiled a collection of resources for library staff in response to the need for NSLS members to share information about how to serve non-English speaking patrons.

AskAway (Spanish): Mt. Prospect Library

After Hours AskAway in Spanish allows patrons to get research and internet help from a librarian 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also available in English.

Michigan: The Dominican Literacy Center

This ProLiteracy Affiliate based in Detroit provides tutoring services and classes for adults interested in improving their reading, writing, speaking, listening, mathematics, and basic computers skills.

Minnesota: Outreach at Hennepin County Library

In addition to offering English conversation circles for adult English Language Learners, this library provides links to immigration information, school help for immigrant families, resources for improving English, and computer classes in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.

Immigrant Resources at the Minneapolis Public Library

Library Links! is a multilingual outreach program of the Minneapolis Public Library, serving as a bridge to the library for new communities. In addition to offering assistance in using library resources and making immigrants feel welcome, Library Links! connects new immigrant populations in libraries, at schools, and in the community.

New York: Queens Library

Learn English: In the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Program, students can study English on a flexible schedule, practice conversational skills in a tutor-led group, use computers to develop English skills, have access to books, audio materials, and videos, and participate in special learning activities and educational field trips.

¡Bienvenidos a Queens!: An online directory for Spanish speakers that provides community information in Spanish on health, immigration issues, housing, English classes and other topics useful for new immigrants.

Mail-A-Book: Queens residents who are homebound are eligible for this service, in which they can request specific titles or indicate their subject or language preferences. Materials are available in over fifteen languages.

Tennessee: Project Access

This website enables learners to practice English skills using words, images, and netspace in an interactive video format.

The goal of this collaborative two–year program between the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and the Nashville Public Library is to help increase adult English Language learners’ (ELL) skills in language, visual art, and computer literacy. Artist Red Grooms, a native of Nashville, provides an introduction to the project. An article written by Anne Henderson and Elyse Adler provides a wealth of background information on the development of Project Access, its goals, evaluation of the project, and its long-term sustainability.

Texas: New Immigrant Centers at the Austin Public Library

These Centers offer books and materials for English language learning and U.S. citizenship, multilingual materials, and ESL and computer classes. New English learners can also participate in Talk Time, where they can practice their English skills in a relaxed, conversational environment with volunteer facilitators. Centers are located in 7 branches of the APL System in neighborhoods with a high concentration of immigrants.

Washington: Seattle Public Library’s Literacy & ESL Office

Classes and community organizations that serve adult basic skills students and new adult learners can make use of specially-designed library tours and presentations on topics ranging from getting a library card to using the library’s resources for job searching. Students can also check out materials on GED preparation, parenting, improving reading and writing, citizenship, workplace skills, and much more. For ESL students, a wide variety of classes are available for beginning to advanced level learners.

Canada: Toronto Public Library

The Toronto Public Library recognizes and welcomes its responsibility to develop and provide services for newcomers and people with diverse cultural backgrounds, and offers a wealth of citizenship and immigration information; ESL materials for students and educators; and a multilingual library collection.