1. Steven Carter-Lovejoy and Kate McClory Henrico County Public Library
The ESL Conversation Cafe: a public library program for Henrico County’s immigrant community
Steven Carter-Lovejoy and Kate McClory
Henrico County Public Library

2. Purpose
Henrico County has many foreign born, non-native English speakers moving into the county
More than 11% of Henrico County residents are foreign-born
The Henrico County Public Library (HCPL) wanted to reach this underserved population
Higher than the
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

3. Concept HCPL developed the ESL Conversation Café as
a unique learning opportunity with meaningful impact to supplement traditional ESL classes
a program that can be sustained with reasonable resources (=cheap)
Minimal library staff with no ESL training using volunteers
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

4. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

5. Description
Implemented on a monthly basis at 2 HCPL branches, beginning in 2010
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

6. Henrico County’s Tuckahoe Library
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

7. Henrico County’s Dumbarton Library (R.I.P.)
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

8. Henrico County’s New Libbie Mill Library
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

9. Description
We use volunteers and staff to facilitate conversations with non-native English speaking immigrants
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

10. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

11. Description
Intended for participants with high-beginning to intermediate speaking ability
Dumbarton uses a registration form – an initial interview using simple questions to assess a participant’s ability to converse
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

12. ESL Conversation Cafe Intake Form
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

13. Description Email reminders to participants and volunteers
Provide light refreshments
Provide library tools to facilitate conversations including atlases, dictionaries and ipads
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

14. Description Promote ESL learning tools such as language CDs and DVDs
Promote the county’s adult education and community ESL classes
Encourage participants to get library cards
Promote other library programs such as Book Discussions and Children’s Programs
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

15. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

16. Description At Tuckahoe:
We establish separate tables of conversation each with 1-2 American volunteers and 1-5 immigrants
Conversations are free-form, and allowed to spin as they will (with volunteer guidance)
We encourage library tours following meeting
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

17. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

18. Description At Dumbarton we provide a more structured experience
We generally start together in a circle
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

19. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe
At DU, usually in one group and enjoy introducing themselves but structured questions ensure that everyone gets to speak; often split up during games
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

20. ESL Conversation Cafe Discussion Guide
Other topics include:
School
The Beach
Holidays
Pet Peeves
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

21. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

22. ESL Conversation Cafe Bingo Card Topic: Halloween
Many other topics found at dltk-cards.com
Other topics i.e. spring, beach, Thanksgiving
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

23. “Life’s a Beach!” Discussion
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

24. Promotion
Typical library channels – in-library signs, library website, 3x/year program guide
Flyers widely distributed to
ESL programs in schools and churches
Ethnic markets & community centers
Flyer distribution assistance by volunteers and participants
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

25. quarter-sheet format)
ESL Conversation Cafe
Typical Flyer
(also provided in
quarter-sheet format)
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

26. Results/success of program
Attendance averages 2-6 participants (up to 21), 1-3 volunteers
Who participates
Broad diversity, over 60 countries represented so far
Asia and Latin American most common, Europe and Africa also well- represented
Most are well-educated, but many exceptions
Both genders well-represented
Both regulars and one-timers
 Many speak only their native language with family at home
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

27. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

28. Results/success of program
Recognition
Local media
Richmond Times Dispatch article
Henrico TV documentary
2014 Awards from National Association of Counties & Virginia Association of Counties
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

29. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe
Recognition

30. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

31. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

32. Results/success of program
Heartwarming immigrant stories
Personal successes
Helping others/building community
Participation in other library programs
Rewarding for staff and volunteers
Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

33. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

34. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

35. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

36. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

37. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe

38. Henrico County Public Library’s ESL Conversation Cafe