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G2S Project Code: 2014-CO-73008
State: Colorado
Fiscal Year: 2014
Grantee
MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT

Project Director
Director Name: Paul Paladino
Director Phone: 970-964-2550
Director Email: ppaladino@montroselibrary.org
General Information
Title: Linking Latinos to the Community
State Project Code: FY14-005
Start Date: 10/01/2014
End Date: 09/30/2015
Abstract:

The Montrose Regional Library linked Latinos to the library by: offering two six-week series of computer classes; leading nine months of weekly citizenship classes; training citizenship tutors to help naturalization class participants and others pass the citizenship test; training “conversation partners” to help Spanish speakers learn English; and holding a Dia de los Muertos celebration. 


State Goal: Services to Underserved Populations
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$12,400.00
$0.00
$1,700.00
$14,100.00
Intent(s)
Improve users' formal education.
Education
Languages
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Dia de los Muertos
Narrative:  2nd annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration was held at the library. The event featured food, fun and activities for the family at the library. Participants were encouraged to tour the library and sign up for new library cards. 
  • 250 people attended the event
  • 200 tamales, ten loaves of "dead bread", and 15 gallons of horchata were consumed at the event. All food was paid for through donations or local funds. 
  • Children decorated 90 sugar skulls and made 75 corn husk dolls
  • 29 new library cards were issued

Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: In-person


Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 120
Number of presentations/performances administered: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 250


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: Yes
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 320 SOUTH 2ND STREET
City: MONTROSE
State: CO
Zip: 81401
Activity Details
Title: Spanish Language Computer Classes
Narrative: Two sessions of Spanish Language Computer classes were held.
Spring Session:
  • Six participants (3 men/ 3 women) attended 10 classes
Fall Session:
  • Twelve women attended 8 classes
  • The library provided childcare for 5-8 children during these classes



Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 90
Number of sessions in program: 10
Average number in attendance per session: 9
Number of times program administered: 2


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 320 SOUTH 2ND STREET
City: MONTROSE
State: CO
Zip: 81401
Activity Details
Title: Conversation Partner Classes
Narrative: Montrose County School District's Adult Basic Education (ABE) department conducted two five-week training sessions for volunteers in the Conversation Partners program. These volunteers met weekly with English language learners for language practice. Four people completed five Conversation Partner classes in October and November 2014, six people completed the classes in March and April 2015.  
Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 180
Number of sessions in program: 5
Average number in attendance per session: 5
Number of times program administered: 2


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 320 SOUTH 2ND STREET
City: MONTROSE
State: CO
Zip: 81401
Activity Details
Title: Citizenship classes
Narrative: The library held 24 citizenship classes. Nine people attended all or some of them. One citizenship class student has taken and passed her citizenship test. One student will take her test in December of 2015. Fifteen people have signed up for the next round of citizenship classes, scheduled to begin in late October of 2015. The Hispanic Affairs Project (HAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the social development of the Latino immigrant community, gave guidance in the hiring of an instructor and in developing curriculum for the classes. 

Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 120
Number of sessions in program: 24
Average number in attendance per session: 6
Number of times program administered: 1


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 320 SOUTH 2ND STREET
City: MONTROSE
State: CO
Zip: 81401
Activity Details
Title: Citizenship Tutor Classes
Narrative: The Montrose County School District's Adult Basic Education (ABE) department held a four-week training course beginning in January for Citizenship class tutors who worked with participants in the naturalization classes to help them prepare for the USCIS test. Five people completed four Citizenship tutor training sessions in January and February 2015, and were paired with participants in the citizenship classes

Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 180
Number of sessions in program: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 5
Number of times program administered: 1


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 320 SOUTH 2ND STREET
City: MONTROSE
State: CO
Zip: 81401
Activity Details
Title: Spanish/English Conversation Sessions
Narrative: Eighteen people attended a monthly two-hour Spanish conversation session at the library. The group has recently decided to invite Spanish only speakers to attend, and during the first hour, they speak only Spanish, and the Spanish speakers help the English speakers, and in the second hour, they speak only English and the English speakers help the Spanish speakers. The group has also decided to meet every week. 
Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 120
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 18
Number of times program administered: 4


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 320 SOUTH 2ND STREET
City: MONTROSE
State: CO
Zip: 81401
Activity Details
Title: Latin American Cookbooks
Narrative: 25 women in the various programs were interviewed and contributed recipes to the Library's cookbook titled "From Our Kitchens to Yours: Latin American Recipes from Immigrants to the Uncompahgre Valley"  100 books were printed for distribution to library patrons. 
Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Physical


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 100
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 320 SOUTH 2ND STREET
City: MONTROSE
State: CO
Zip: 81401
Activity Details
Title: Class Evaluation
Narrative:

The library conducted pre and post-computer class surveys todetermine what topics people wanted to learn about and whether their knowledgeof the subject increased. These surveys were especially helpful in planning theclass content.

Verbal evaluations were conducted with the ConversationPartners and Citizenship Tutors to learn how the classes could be improved.

The library did not distribute the postcard/email survey ofSpanish speaking library card holders. This was to be done by the citizenship instructor,but she was hired for a teaching job in Turkey. The survey will be distributedby the end of 2015.


Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Planning & Evaluation
Mode: Retrospective
Format: In-house


Quantity
Number of evaluations and/or plans funded: 3
Number of funded evaluation and/or plans completed: 2


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MONTROSE REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 320 SOUTH 2ND STREET
City: MONTROSE
State: CO
Zip: 81401
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
Increased knowledge among participants in how to use a computer that resulted in: greater employment options; improved communication with family and friends through email and social media; and enhanced access to online conveniences such as filing for benefits and online banking. Participants also gained awareness of the library and its resources. Through the naturalization classes, participants are better prepared to become US citizens. They improved their English and feel more empowered and knowledgeable about participating in American culture. They formed relationships with their Conversation Partners and Citizenship Tutors. To date one student has taken and passed her citizenship test. One student will take her test in December of 2015. Activities used to increase use of the library helped Latinos feel more connected to the library and the community. By increasing their use of the library, they gained the education, enlightenment, and entertainment that come from all of the library’s resources.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
This is the library’s second LSTA grant to improve library services for Spanish speakers, and each time they learn more and feel like they are making great strides in “Linking Latinos to the Library.” The most important thing they discovered is that Latinos must be involved in all aspects of improving library services for them. For instance, from a survey the library distributed, they learned childcare played a crucial role in whether participants could attend the computer classes. As a result of this feedback the library provided childcare for 5-8 children during the September 2015 computer classes. The experience gained from the LSTA grant helped to secure a grant from the American Library Association/FINRA Investor Education Foundation to offer financial literacy classes, including to Spanish speakers. They are very excited to use the knowledge from lessons learned to improve results
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Survey
Review of Administrative Data
Interview/Focus Group
Participant Observation
Based on outputs, outcomes and/or other results, explain any significant lessons learned from these findings for either the SLAA or others in the LIS field:
• People like being both learners and teachers. The success of the Spanish/English conversation sessions is very affirming. • The library is at a loss as to the types of adult Spanish programs they could be providing. The only feedback received from a survey of Dia de los Muertos attendees was that they wanted more computer classes. Through another grant, the library is offering popular financial literacy classes in Spanish, which will continue beyond the end of that grant (June 2016). In order to gain better insight into what Spanish speakers would like in terms of ongoing adult programming, the library will assemble an advisory group to develop topics and speakers • Providing childcare is vital to increasing attendance at programs for Spanish speakers. • It is very important to use the personal approach to recruit Latinos to Library programming. It is not enough to rely on ads and flyers. A phone call or in-person recruitment makes a big difference.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort:
No
Do you anticipate any change in the project's scope:
No
Do you anticipate any other changes in the project:
No
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Spanish Language, Digital Literacy, Adult Programming