What to do… When Level Three is also Level Four: Providing Better Access to Library Materials for English Learners Presented by Zohara G. Kaye, for CARL Conference 2008

Welcome Who is Glendale College? Who am I? What seems to be the problem? Methodology Solution: when Dewey is not enough! Assessment Questions & Answers

Who is Glendale College? City of Glendale, California 10-17,000 students per semester Only 50% of students claim English as their first language Demographics Library Collections

Who am I? Librarian, Technical Services Library Technician, Circulation Student Assistant, Circulation Immigrant and learner of English as a Fourth Language

What seems to be the problem? Confusion… –Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior –Mismatch in levels of difficulty between numerous publishers –Oxford: BookwormsOxford: Bookworms –Black Cat: Reading & TrainingBlack Cat: Reading & Training

Literature Review and Methodology ESL Publishers –Levels of difficulty based on numerous national and international standards – not easily juxtaposed not easily juxtaposed –West, 1953 – GSL (revised in 1995) –Fry Formula, 1977 –Collins English Library, 1978 –Lexile Framework ® –Cambridge ESOL –EPER

Literature Review and Methodology ESL Publishers –Levels of difficulty based on numerous national and international standards ESL Learners –International standards and the American Library ESL Collection in other area libraries

Solution: when Dewey is not enough! “California Standards” used by GCC GCC ESL course sequence in 5 levels Collaboration with ESL faculty –Kirk Vaughn & Kay Baldwin reviewed items per publisher and level and assigned a level corresponding with the college’s ESL course structure

But wait, there’s more! Cutter – first name last or last name first? (or neither?) Quest for user-friendly shelving & signage: And finally, add some COLOR !

BEFORE AND AFTER Confusion Unsatisfied patrons (inadequately served) All publishers and levels interfiled Author order (all levels combined)Author order Contentment Patrons with information needs met Shelved per level, corresponding to the college’s ESL Dept. Title order per level. Color-coded Chart

Assessment Circulation statistics Anecdotal stories Pre/Post Survey

Thank you! Question? Comments? You can reach me at Glendale College: –818/ x5576