Hennepin County Library Minnesota ALSC National Institute September 15, 2006 Pittsburgh, PA Engaging Your Community in Día Partnerships

Día de los niños / Día de los libros Numbering at an estimated 193,200 (2005), Latinos are now well established in urban, suburban and rural areas, and remain the state's fastest growing ethnic group. Projected growth trends estimate that Minnesota's Latino population growth will increase by 248% through Latinos in Minnesota

Suburban Hennepin County 26 Libraries 17 School Districts Largest Immigrant Groups: Mexicans (many from Puebla, Morelos, and Guanajuato), Salvadorians, Ecuadorians, Colombians and Guatemalans

Our Goals  Link Latinos with library resources  Educate people about Early Literacy  Recognize and celebrate our Latino communities  Build community partnerships

How it all began…  3+ years of relationship building  Parent visits  to build trust  to learn about their experiences with literacy and libraries  Bilingual storytimes with a few families at the library  Readmobile visits  Four or five community partners 2003 – 2004

How it all began…  Other connections: ELL teachers and tutors  Weekly bilingual storytimes at adult ELL classes  Bus trips to the library  Families were more interested and trusted us  We asked them what they wanted for Día  These families felt ownership of the event 2004 – 2005

Día 2005  17 community partners  Held out in the community  450+ in attendance  Gave away 250 children’s books  Great feedback from the community

Día 2005  Model for other libraries  Systematic approach in promoting  Shared resources and contacts

Día Community Partners 750+ in attendance

Día 2006  In collaboration with major Latino newspaper and radio  Held at same location in the community  Gave away 500 children’s books  More diverse families in attendance  Much more literacy based program  Community assumed leadership / library was more a partner

Latino Media  La Prensa de MN  “La Invasora” 1400 AM  Gente de MN Newspaper Service providers  Bloomington Public Health  Community Action of South Hennepin  Center for Training and Careers  FamiLink  Family and Children’s Services  Legal Aid Society  ELL Tutors from South Hennepin Adult Partners in Education (SHAPE)  Storefront Family Options Partnerships: Partnerships

Partnerships: Faith Organizations  La Iglesia de la Asunción  Ss. Cirilo y Metódio (Ecuadorian) Other Community Partners  MIRA Latino Resource Center  American Red Cross  Bloomington & Richfield Parks and Recreation  Bloomington Police, the Explorers and Officer McGruff  Richfield Policy Department  Richfield Fire Department  Target Volunteers Partnerships

Library Partners:  Library Foundation of Hennepin County  HCL Communications Department  Library Administration  HCL IT Department  HCL Collections Development Department  Youth Services Librarians  Bilingual library staff, including SS  Public Services Department  HCL Latino teen interns Partnerships

Local Latino Businesses  La Concha Mexican Bakery  El Jalapeño Grocery Store Latino Families  made food, designed piñatas, lead storytimes, decorated, planned, made costumes, etc.  Chiqui and the Children’s Choir  Diana Merrigan and the Children’s Folkloric Dancers  “Sentimiento Ecuatoriano” dancers Most Critical Community Partners

 Focus on early literacy  Understand community expectations  Engage target community  Involve other library staff  Give-aways: books and bikes  Great DJ Key Components

Music, dancing, food, piñatas. Kids are the stars! Día de los niños / Día de los libros

Publicity Word of Mouth... Radio and Newspapers… Fliers… Key Community Members and Partners…

Early Literacy Focus

Early Literacy Focus  Incorporate traditional music: “La marcha de las letras” by Cri-Crí and “Juguemos en el bosque”  Hint: Ask your community what songs they recall from their childhood. They might even have the music at home.  Use letters and words for decoration.  Hang white paper on the wall and ask families to write a message.  Examples: “What Día de los niños means to me…” or “My favorite story or song is…”

Give away books: such as “Los Pollitos Dicen” by Nancy Abraham Hall Children could decorate the room with illustrations from their favorite book. Early Literacy Focus

Día de los niños / Día de los libros Recognize the diversity in your Latino community

Birth to Six Website: Jun 05 – May 06 The Payoff

 Circulation of Spanish Language materials went up.  Two feature articles in Richfield Sun Current.  New partnership with Latino Communications Network, the largest Latino media outlet in MN, including two major newspapers and “La Invasora” 1400 AM radio!  Five feature articles in La Prensa de MN and Gente de MN, printed bilingually, regarding general library services, library programs for Latinos, and early literacy for Latinos; all leading up to Día celebration. The Payoff

The Payoff Richfield Community Ed. survey asked community members what events stand out as being a big deal in the lives of kids around Richfield.  4 th of July –  Cattail Days – fall festival type of thing  Football games  Day of the Child (new)  Teen dances at pool (older kids)  Visit events in other communities

The Payoff  Long-term relationships established  More outreach to Latinos  Community building amongst Latino families  Library buy-in

Systematic Support  Hopkins Library  St. Louis Park Library  Brookdale Library

Día 2007 and Beyond HCL is working with University of Minnesota Doctoral candidate, Lillian Duran, and Early Literacy Consultant, Angele Passe, to develop procedures to ensure that HCL’s World Language Storytimes incorporate current research on preschool English Language Learners’ literacy development.

Día 2007 and Beyond  Incorporating more Early Literacy modeling and training  Teach Early Literacy skills in the community  Systematically support other libraries to try it  Encourage families from other cultures to attend