Illinois - Program Overview & Reports

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-06-13T20:24:43Z

Hey everyone!
I just got an email from the library (Marathon County Public Library in Wausau, WI) where I did my first training in January, and one of our panel members just completed the first of an 8-week program of computer classes for Spanish speakers at the library. She said everyone who registered showed up, and three families signed up for library cards with their children. They feel the word-of-mouth publicity will help get even more people.

The person I worked with said they had been thinking about offering these classes at the library for some time, but participating in our workshop really got the ball rolling. They are also going to contact the reporter, who covered the workshop for the local paper, to see if he'd like to do a follow-up story.

Jamie

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-06-04T22:48:08Z

It's been two months since I presented my final workshop. I have a feeling that like the attendees, the workshops will leave a lasting mark on our libraries because of the positive influence on future services. Here at my library, we have concluded a reading discussion group of the book Journal: The Short Life and Mysterious Death of Amy Zoe Mason by Joyce and Kristine Atkinson for over 70 literacy students (mostly ESL). This fall, we will begin offering computer classes on Thursday evenings and Saturdays (in Spanish) in addition to one offered on Monday afternoons. We received the American Dream Begins @ Your Library grant and will offer practice interviews for the new citizenship exam and classes for using Rosetta Stone. Students will be able to check out laptops with that software so up to 10 simultaneous users can access it at one time. It has been exciting to be part of this program and seeing an increase in services for our Spanish speakers.
Susan Chandler
Sterling Municipal Library
Baytown, TX

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-04-22T12:50:42Z

Hello again!

I just finished Philadelphia workshop last Friday. What a great city! And the library is wonderful, with so much to do and see. They just added a small cafeteria, which is perfect for spending all day at a workshop.

We had 2 visitors from Michigan, and the group did a great job. We had laughs and a lot of ideas. Although the room was pretty warm, they were able to stick to the program. The most exciting part was the community leaders participation, as they found out great programs at the library they can offer to their members.

Lots of prices and a rewarding day!
Susana

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-04-03T23:16:26Z

Hi Everyone,

I am back from PLA and catching up on the discussion boards. Thanks to all of you for continuing to post about your workshops!

WJ staff at our PLA booth had many people tell them how much they have gotten out of the SLO workshops (thanks to all of you). And many had success stories to share about the outreach activities they are implementing.

Keep up the good work!
Laura

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-29T13:54:38Z

Hello!
I had my first workshop this past Thursday at the Easton Public Library in PA. Thanks to Claudia and the people from Easton, everything ran perfectly smooth. The room was ready, the food was on time, all panelists showed up and the equipment worked properly. Sounds like a dream come true!

As many of you have expressed before, I tied up the timing of some slides and gave more time to exercises and discussions, which I think is the key to create enthusiasm. Also, because it is their opportunity to ask questions and "stretch" ideas. I tried to make the exercises as "real" as possible, and many times played devil's advocate, by challenging their responses from a cultural point of view.

PA added a third section in our folders with complete information about the state's demographics by county, the main community agencies and organizations in each area with contact information, and a list of Latino media, also by region. With that information handy, they were able to work on a complete action plan by choosing who they should contact and what media they would use. I think that was very useful material -although does not replace the research work they have to do- but it helped to see a more realistic process of where to go and what to do. I think it is a great tool if you can provide that information in advance.

The panelists were very enthusiastic about participation and strategic partnership, and they stayed for lunch, which increased the bonding aspect of the session. I encouraged them to follow up with the local libraries, and I think much will be happening soon.

The session went very well, and participation was very rewarding. At the end, I usually ask participants to tell me one main thought they are taking home that day, as a reminder of the whole session's different aspects, and also to see which ideas stuck better. The answers were great! Most participants agreed on having improved marketing skills, the need of taking baby steps, the importance of relating to community leaders, the need of building Spanish collections and for computer training, etc. Really good answers.

I noticed that some participants's level of computers skills was not advanced. We only had one participant that offers regular computer training at her site, so that is another barrier that will have to be addressed by each library in order for workshop participants to use WebJunction fluently. I totally empathize with them as I am a digital immigrant myself!

The other tough part is making the case, and to overcome discouragement, especially in the present political climate. I tried to emphasize the personal and professional rewards of working with Latinos, and suggested starting with small steps and low expectations.

Overall, it was a great experience, and we ended on time!!!

Now, I'm heading to Philadelphia, with a larger and more challenging group. Thanks for sharing all your experiences.
Susana

Re: Let's keep our enthusiasm going!

2008-03-26T19:28:35Z

Correction! Workshops offered were 2 in Nov/Dec 07 and 7 more to go. Sorry!

Re: Let's keep our enthusiasm going!

2008-03-25T13:47:37Z

We are getting ready to start our Spring workshops in PA. We only conducted one last year due to low registration and scheduling but now enthusiasm has picked up thanks to the advertising efforts of our Coordinator Claudia Koenig. Steph and Ineavelle conducted the first one with great success, I will be doing solo presentations. Philadelphia looks promising with over 20 people registered. Thanks for all the insight and sharing, it really helps while preparing the workshops.

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-24T16:44:26Z

Hi, Everyone!

My first workshop was conducted in Lubbock, TX. I had a small group. Everyone participated and a lot of good ideas were shared. I did get nervous at first, but felt better as the workshop continued. I had 3 community leaders for the panel and they shared information of how they are involved in diversity.

My second workshop was conducted in Midland, TX. That one went real well also. I had only 7 in the group. They were very enthusiastic and they shared what they have been doing in their libraries. The Friends of the Library are a very influential group who have helped the Midland County Library. They have volunteers in the branch libraries and they have helped built/remodel the main library. 2 community leaders showed up for the panel and they also had very interesting information to share.

I really enjoyed conducting the workshops. I hope everyone else is doing fine with theirs.

Minerva Alaniz

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-19T18:32:29Z

Happy to report I heard from one of our librarians who attended our first workshop back in the fall. Based on what she learned at the workshop she went back to her library and started Spanish story hours. She reported that it has been a huge success. They are having more children at the Spanish storyhours than at the English. She has also been approached by some English speaking parents who want their children to attend to become exposed to the Spanish language.
Pam Jaskot, NC

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-17T17:04:53Z

I conducted a workshop in Pendleton, Oregon for 8 participants on 3/14/08. Great group of Community Leader Panelists-they were wonderful. This was the first workshop that I conducted by myself and it's a lot of work! Good group of participants with lots of ideas.
Jo
Team Oregon

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-16T17:09:59Z

Montana had another great workshop on March 15 in Billings. We ended up with 5 people for the whole day and one extra for part of the day. I was expecting 8 people total, but one got sick and one was a no-show. There's been a lot of viruses going around lately. I was grateful not to get sick prior to the workshop!

The community leader panel was a hit - as usual. It was an intimate, friendly group. After an hour, we continued discussion as we ate lunch together. It was eye-opening for the participants.

Regarding Module 6: I chose to supply each participant with their own laptop computer so that we could surf WebJunction rather than run the demo. This was great. It gave the participants a chance to investigate WJ on their own and register right then. They also learned from one another when they found interesting things. It opened up the site much more for the participants than if they passively viewed the demo. And, at the end of the day, it is good to have hands-on rather than passive activity. Maybe by surfing it once, they will have tendency to re-visit.

I had 2 high school volunteers who were my go-fers for the day. That really helped. They helped me carry supplies and kept time for me. They waited for participants and community leaders at the front door of the library and escorted them to the workshop room. I also had signage, but the volunteers were great.

The Billings library staff that attended came away with an exciting action plan. It involves partnering with a group that won't be able to participate until Fall 2009. Kind of far away, but it is in the works!

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-10T21:31:51Z

I have just completed my last workshop in TX. It was a small but vocal bunch. I had hoped to start with a small group with my first workshop in January and gradually take on more participants to get a better feel of the curriculum but in the end, it all worked out well.

I had only one panel member show but was he an inspiration! Your panel members are a very important part of your program! I wish I could have taken him to all of my workshops. Overall, the day flew with this small group of 6 and there were plenty of ideas to go around.

It was a little difficult to do some of the exercises with a small group, so I decided that we do them together. I think it worked out well.

Good luck Texans!

Norma

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-09T21:21:48Z

Team Oregon just presented it's 6th of 9 workshops in beautiful Hood River, Oregon which overlooks the Columbia Gorge. I was a bit nervous since I had not conducted a workshop since November but thank goodness my fellow state trainer, Lucy Iraola agreed to co-train with me. We had a small group of 7 but they had lots of enthusiasm and insights. A great group with great ideas-I look forward to hearing what they do in the future. As always the Community Leader Panelists was the big hit of the workshop-they were all very involved with the Spanish speaking community and are doing tremendous work. They represented HeadStart, The Next Door project, La Clinica and they were involved with other agencies/organizations in the area. I think the group would have been happy to have the panelists there all afternoon. I also had one of the Hood River staff as a liaison to the Hood River library-she helped enormously with the set up of the workshop. And did I already say the meeting room looked over the gorgeous Columbia Gorge? Just the icing on the cake for such a great workshop!
Jo (Team Oregon)

Re: Plaza Comunitaria

2008-03-07T02:54:21Z

The Plaza Comunitaria has been in the US for a few years.

When working as a bilingual library specialist, I attended (on my own time) the workshop training offered in Chicago at the Mexican Consulate. I instigated the program at the library where I worked, because the program requires access to a computer and printer.

Unfortunately, the new library director no longer wanted to offer the level of service to Spanish-speaking patrons, and dissolved the position.

Since, I finished my degree at the university and am hoping to study for my library degree. I have always believed libraries could be an excellent bridge in this effort. However, I have never known any to catch the vision. Lately, libraries desire to serve the Latinos. This program would be an excellent service.

The program assists Spanish-speaking adults from Mexico, 15 years and older to finish their secondary school education. It is no cost to the United States taxpayer.

Tutors are needed to help access their studies. All exams and records are registered online with the Secretary of Education in Mexico-UNAM.

Studies have shown that, a person with an education less than the ninth grade will struggle with learning another language. Not having a good foundation in their first language makes it difficult to compare with another language.

What is everyone saying about the immigrants?-THEY SHOULD LEARN ENGLISH! If they lack education, they will struggle.

LIBRARIES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-07T00:43:45Z

Hi Molly,

The guide is currently posted here as a pdf: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=19573

However, let me ask the folks in Beaufort County if they would be willing to share an editable version. Good idea!

Laura

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-07T00:26:50Z

This pointing guide is fantastic. When the guide is posted to WJ, will it be an editable version that librarians can adapt for their own individual libraries?

Molly

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-05T16:21:55Z

Well, last week I presented my last workshop in Fennimore, Wisconsin, a small community in the south western corner of the state. A snowstorm the night before kept 3 people away, but luckily we are a hardy bunch!

The thing that really struck me about this workshop was how much less energy it took to do a workshop for people who were really positive about outreach, and saw a clear need in their communities. The Spanish speaking population in the other parts of the state I visited is much more invisible, but in SW Wisconsin, librarians are really seeing a need for more services.

I was lucky to have Barb Huntington as a guest presenter again. We had good luck using a few of the interactive ideas posted by other workshop presenters, and I think this helped to keep things lively and fun.

This has been a terrific experience, and I can definitely see ways that it will have a lasting affect on the way I do my work. So thanks to everyone involved!

Leah

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-04T00:36:36Z

Molly - these are all such great projects! Please encourage the folks working on them to apply for the Diversity Fair Scholarship to attend ALA and present at the OLOS Diversity Fair this June. More information is available here: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=15003.

And trainers are eligible this year too! So those of you out there who have not only been delivering workshops but also implementing your own outreach projects, PLEASE apply.

Laura

Re: My first workshop in Kansas

2008-03-04T00:30:57Z

Janelle - I am glad to hear your first workshop went well!

If you have the email of the person at the correctional facility, (if she can receive emails), please point her to the great resources for serving the incarcerated that Emily pulled together last summer: http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=17846

Cheers,
Laura

Re: Trainer Reflections on Workshops

2008-03-04T00:26:46Z

Susan,
How great to hear that one of your workshop participants has already scheduled computer classes and invited the community leaders she met at the workshop to speak to the PTA! You obviously made an impression!

Laura