NMRLS has been awarded an LSTA Open Grant - Serving Spanish-Speaking Patrons in Northeast Massachusetts. A planning group met to discuss issues related to training. We have decided to host several training sessions on the following topics.
- Front Line Staff and Diversity - designed for any library employee that is involved in communications with diverse clientele and/or staff members - December 15, 2004 and April 13, 2005 (identical sessions)
- Program and Service Planners and Public Relations - designed for those involved in planning and implementation of library programs and services as well as public relations - March 30, 2005
- Management and Diversity - designed to cover diversity issues for library managers and supervisors at all levels - April 12, 2005
This grant project is designed to address region-wide training needs and specific local needs to serve Spanish-speaking patrons in NMRLS communities with the largest Spanish-speaking population. Spanish speakers above the age of five make up an average of sixteen percent of these communities' populations. This is double the regional average and more than double the state average. The project will include several major components, selected from expressed needs of public libraries:
- Training for library staff on serving diverse patrons and on cultural awareness.
- Creation of a patron evaluation tool and its translation into Spanish to evaluate Spanish speakers' impression of customer service in targeted libraries.
- Creation of a staff evaluation tool to assess the effectiveness of training and follow-up training needs.
- Informal discussion forums for library staff members to encourage interlibrary communications.
