PLA releases “Family Engagement for Spanish-Speaking Community Members” Workbook

IMLS-funded guide freely available now

CHICAGO—The Public Library Association (PLA) today announced the availability of a new practical guide for engaging Spanish-speaking community members. Just in time for use in planning Library Card Sign-Up Month activities and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in September, the workbook provides case studies and planning tools to help library workers better engage Spanish-speaking families. The guide is available for free download in English and Spanish.

“Family Engagement for Spanish-Speaking Community Members” builds on years of work by PLA members related to family engagement and culminates work funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in partnership with the National Center for Families Learning. Libraries in California, Georgia, and Massachusetts participated in development and testing of the workbook tools and resources.

“I am so excited to share this new resource with the public library community,” said PLA President Jamar O. Rahming. “Research shows that Spanish-speaking community members are less likely to have visited a public library and have a library card due to various barriers. Based on practical library experiences and best practices in family engagement, this guide can help bridge this gap with our Spanish-speaking families…or families of any background who may not yet have found their way to our libraries.”

Family engagement begins at birth and continues through young adulthood. Public libraries are ideal settings for family engagement across the age spectrum. Starting with inventory and reflection, the workbook guides readers through the “5 Rs” for authentic family engagement: Reach Out, Raise Up, Reinforce, Relate, and Reimagine.

Find resources to move your programming from involvement to true engagement, explore a multitude of Spanish-speaking identities, utilize resources on community mapping and partnership development, and take advantage of practical tips and approaches for engaging families in community conversations. Throughout, you will find templates, worksheets, best practices, and other easy-to-implement resources.

Learn more at: https://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/familyengagement/spanishspeaking.

About the Public Library Association 

The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 9,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or pla@ala.org.