ASCLA offers course for librarians serving Spanish speakers

Contact: Eileen Hardy


Marketing Specialist, ASCLA


312-280-4398


ehardy@ala.org

For Immediate Release,


November 20, 2007

ASCLA offers course for librarians serving Spanish speakers

CHICAGO-The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) offers an Internet-based course, "Selecting Spanish-Language Materials for Adults." The course, which runs from April 7 - May 2, is designed to teach attendees how to develop a Spanish-language materials collection.




"According to the 2000 census, 28.1 million people over 5 years of age who live in the U.S. speak Spanish at home-a figure that has undoubtedly increased over the past years," wrote Todd Douglas Quesada in "Spanish Spoken Here," an article in the November 2007 issue of American Libraries.




ASCLA, an association dedicated to providing library services to special populations, recognized the need for training to help libraries best serve their Spanish-speaking patrons. It is working with Yolanda J. Cuesta, a trainer and consultant with more than 25 years experience in helping libraries serve diverse communities, to offer an introductory course that teaches the basics of developing a Spanish-language collection.




The course covers the importance of providing the materials and explores the diversity of the Spanish-speaking population in the US. Students will learn about setting goals and establishing criteria for selecting materials, working with the community to identify needs, discussing tools and techniques, choosing a distributor and marketing the collection. It includes information on how the differences in Spanish-language publishing have an impact on the selection process.




The registration cost is $130 for ASCLA members, $160 for ALA members, $190 for non-ALA members and $100 for ALA student and retired members.




For more information about the course please visit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/ascla/asclaevents/professionaldevelopmentonlinea/prodevonline.htm