¡Se Habla Español! Libraries Offer Servince in Spanish

Some 78 percent of libraries nationwide say they offer services in Spanish, the number-one non-English language used in public libraries these days, says a new study.

According to “Serving Non-English Speakers in U.S. Public Libraries,” the first national survey to examine the range of specialized library services for non-English speakers, about 21 million people in the United States speak limited or no English, 50 percent more than a decade ago. And as the nation’s demographics continue to change, public libraries such as the El Paso Public Library in Texas, are ramping up their efforts to meet these demands.

Libraries report that the most successful programs and services for non-English speakers are English as a Second Language materials, computer use and computer classes, story times, and special programs, says the study, by the American Library Association (ALA).

“Libraries are places for education, self-help, and lifelong learning,” says ALA President Loriene Roy. “The findings in this study can provide a venue for developing better and more precise library materials, services, and programs for those linguistically isolated.”