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Leveling the Information Playing Field;
Margaret Collins Illinois public libraries are leveling the information playing field for special populations. Nearly 600 Illinois public libraries reported on their efforts to promote literacy and lifelong learning to special populations in their FY96 public library per capita grant applications submitted in July 1995 to the Illinois State Library. This article shares Illinois public library services for Illinois' special populations. The types of programs and services offered are as diverse as the libraries and communities they serve. They range from specialized materials and information to an array of activities designed to appeal to diverse populations.
The Illinois Library Association's public library standards, Avenues to Excellence II, which were superseded in August 1996 by Serving Our Public: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries, provided that libraries should identify specific target groups within their population at least every five years. Specific target groups with special needs include but are not limited to the educationally, culturally and socioeconomically disadvantaged; the elderly, individuals who are illiterate, ethnic minorities, persons with limited English-speaking ability, cognitive and emotional disabilities and residents of state, county and locally funded institutions. Serving Illinois' special populations was the focus of the FY96 Per Capita Grant Program requirements. Illinois public libraries were required to closely examine their service areas and populations served. Using community resources and statistics, Illinois libraries provided statistics on their overall and special populations, and they identified and discussed library services offered to their largest special populations. In an effort to aid public libraries in identifying special populations, the Illinois State Library developed and distributed an optional profile of special populations in FY94. In FY95, the profile was refined and required to be completed and filed with the FY96 Public Library Per Capita Grant application. Further, the Illinois State Library required public library grant applicants to identify their largest special population groups in ranking order and to discuss how the library has served this group(s), outreach measures, how the library needs to improve service to this population and challenges facing the library in adequately serving its special populations. A comparison article by Lisa H. Wright, included in the summer 1996 issue of lllinois Libraries, reported on the percentage and number of people served. This article focuses on the library services provided. Illinois Major Ethnic Populations
This chart represents Illinois' racial make up by showing the largest minority populations to the majority population.
Illinois public libraries' largest special populations are:
234 Illinois' Special Population Groups
SOME OVERLAPPING AMONG THE SPECIAL POPULATION GROUPS (Aged 65 and over includes Hispanic, African-American, American-Indian, etc.) The majority of Illinois public libraries reported on efforts to serve persons 65 or over, families with income below poverty level, persons 16 or older with an 8th grade education or less, persons with limited English speaking ability, visually impaired persons, hearing impaired and physically impaired.
An assumption by this writer is that the work and the support of the Illinois State Library in promoting services for persons 65 and over, the Blind and Physically Handicapped Program and Literacy are directly responsible for the high number of responses from public libraries in reporting outreach activities for these special populations. There are correlations between persons 65 and over, the visually impaired, hearing impaired, literacy, and limited English speaking. Furthermore, there are correlations between persons 16 and older with an education of 8th grade or less and families with income below poverty level. This report will not provide a report of library by library activities for Illinois' special populations, but will share "traditional" and "non-traditional" service and programs offered by Illinois public libraries to special populations. "Traditional" services and programs include film showing, travel talks and book talks. "Non-traditional" programs and services include Family reading activities, bi-lingual storytelling programs, and training programs linking young adults with senior citizens for computer training. All the Illinois public libraries reported some level of outreach services, and most of the libraries reaching out to their largest special populations with special programs. Some libraries acknowledged various obstacles that impeded their ability to reach out to special populations. The vast majority of Illinois public libraries reported on their outreach efforts to their largest populations. 235 TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE SPECIAL POPULATION AFRICAN-AMERICANS • Current and popular African-American fiction and non-fiction materials • African-American staff members • Bookmarks for Black History Month • African-American culture program for local Head Start • Folklore and literature programs • Program on multicultural literature for children • Displays and exhibits • Work with schools and churches • Information and referral • Special collections • Black history video and CD collections • Black history games and puzzles • Black history fun pages • Black History Month celebrations • Programs to promote African-American history and heritage • Branch library services • Summer reading programs • Bookmobile services • Joint programming with community organizations • African-American history and heritage collections • GED classes • Biographical series for young adults famous Black Americans • African-American periodicals • African-American videos • African-American authors • African-American volunteers • Books by African-American authors • Book discussions
AMERICAN INDIANS • Famous Native Americans ASIANS • Asian language collections • Asian/Pacific Heritage Month celebration • Community branch library service • Asian/Pacific library service committee • Programming • Community meetings • Surveys NON-TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE • Bibliographies • Work with African-American organizations • Kwanzaa display • Crafts • Cooking • Head Start Fun Night • Dr. Martin Luther King essay writing contests • Black history quiz games • Kwanzaa celebration • Users and non-users surveys 236 TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE SPECIAL POPULATION ASIANS (continued) • English as a second language programs • Asian language and sensitivity training workshops • Cultural exhibits
PERSONS AGED 65 AND OVER • Agricultural material • Popular fiction collection • Establish lending library in senior centers • Booktalks at senior sites • AARP site • Community calendar with senior activities • Handrails on staircases • Oversized wheelchair for use in library • Periodicals • General fiction • Table top lighted magnifying • Volunteers for home deliveries • Audio tapes of music and the Bible • Classic feature film series in nursing homes • Deposit collections in senior housing • Programming using Bi-Folkal Kits • Demonstrate assistive devices • Surveys • Library programs featuring senior citizens • Movies and video programs • Homebound service • Large print collection • Reader's advisory service • Audio collections • Library programming and senior meal sites • Rotating collections • Delivery and retrieval of library materials • Periodicals and newspapers • Reasonable accommodations • Comply with ADA • Installed a wheelchair lift • Books on cassette • Long term institutional loans • Bookmobile service • Photocopy service NON-TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE • Senior citizens' fairs • Programs on using Internet and other databases • Outreach librarian • Senior service librarian • Coffee hours • Visits to senior sites • Computers with magnifying programs • Arkenstone reading machine (a computer setup for the disabled that uses DecTalk™) • Celebrating Older American Month with displays, handouts and videos • Site for AARP income tax preparation • Arts and crafts programs • Exhibits displaying senior citizens' artwork • Medical collections • Senior health information • Intergenerational training • Exhibits at health care fairs • Convenient hours (including morning hours) • Meal site for senior citizens 237 TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE SPECIAL POPULATION PERSONS AGED 65 AND OVER (continued) • Special programming (legal, taxes, music performance, estate planning, volunteer opportunities, nursing homes, Medicare, medical, leisure time, gardening, insurance problems, retirement planning, etc.) • Site for Rules of the Road classes • Screening site for blood pressure • Regular meeting site • Homebound newsletter • Books on cassette book discussions with residents • Inspirational books by Christian authors • Coffee and donut sessions • Driver's education site
PERSONS WITH AN EDUCATION OF 8TH GRADE OR LESS • GED test preparation help • Popular fiction and romance novels • Expanded paperback format • Audio tapes/audio books • Non-fiction videos • Cassettes • CDs • Pre-K and family education program materials • Hooked on Phonics programs • Advertise literacy programs • Cooperate with the local community colleges and Rotary Club • Work with local literacy council • Hi-Lo library materials • Provide book and video resources on the GED examination • Adult new readers materials • Serving on literacy board and organizations • Literacy grants • School visits • Regular visits to at-risk classes • Provide facilities for tutoring sessions • House literacy materials • Library skills training • Reference service • Serve and participate on literacy planning committee • Participate in literacy rallies • Provide tours for literacy students 238 TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE
SPECIAL POPULATION
FAMILIES WITH INCOME BELOW POVERTY LEVEL • Computers • Typewriters • Newsletters • Videos • Sponsored non-resident cards • Lap sit programs • Reading contests • School visits • School tours • Audio visual equipment • Newspapers • Public relations directed at this target population • Family reading programs • Summer reading programs • Programming for Head Start • Public relations materials placed in social service agencies • Library displays • Programming for the entire family • Children storyhours • Healthy baby and health family collections • Materials on resume writing and job searching • Referral service
VISUALLY IMPAIRED • Regional library service for the blind • Talking books • Cooperation with blind service agencies, organizations and associations • Cooperating with service providers for visually impaired persons • Reading aloud to patrons • Special reading aides for in home or library use • Outreach staff • Large print books
PERSONS RESIDING IN NURSING HOME • Bookmobile service • Deposit collections • Booktalks • Craft programs • Delivery on request
HEARING IMPAIRED • Staff handbook on basic sign language with tips on serving hearing impaired persons • Staff to coordinate activities and services NON-TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE • Homework assistance service • Assist patrons in paying bills and other personal tasks • Various assistive devices TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE SPECIAL POPULATION HEARING IMPAIRED (continued) • Cooperation with agencies and school the hearing impaired • Monthly meetings of hearing impaired • Quarterly meetings of deaf social service providers • Month programs featuring captioned films • Sign language classes • Loans of decaption decoders • TTY/TTD reference service for the deaf • Provide audio loop enhanced hearing and live captioning equipment • Interpreters for library programs • Closed-captioned video explaining library procedures, policies and collections • Closed-captioned video collection • Various assistive devices • Outreach staff • Sign language classes • Closed-captioned decoders • Sensitivity training sessions for staff PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS • Directional sign • Drive up services • Renovation and construction projects to accessibility standards • Special programs • Senior services librarian • Wheelchair and motorized wheelchair for patrons • Medical books • Various assistive devices • Outreach staff
PERSONS RESIDING IN COUNTY AND LOCALLY FUNDED PRISONS/JAILS • Providing magazines and paperback books • Deposit collections
HISPANICS • Family Literacy evenings • Users and non-users surveys and questionnaires • Community meetings • Spanish language collections • Programming on Hispanic culture • Branch library service • Spanish language reference resources • Hispanic library services committee NON-TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE • CD-ROM in Spanish Language • Bi-lingual storytelling programs 240 TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE SPECIAL POPULATION HISPANICS (continued)
• Video collections • Employing bi-lingual staff • Orientation to new Spanish speaking users • Spanish language material on health and consumer information • Staff members who are fluent in Spanish • Famous Hispanic-Americans • Library brochures in Spanish • Visit to health facility with library materials and brochures • Hispanic staff members • School visits • Audio courses • Reading programs for children
PERSONS WITH
• Literacy collection • Staff member who speaks Czech • Czech materials
• Work with other Czech
• Displays • Programs • Attend local school ESL orientation workshops and continuing education classes • Bi-lingual staff • Spanish and Italian language collections • Language cassettes • Literacy site • Literacy coordinator • Interim literacy discussion circle; • Core collection of print and non-print ESL materials • Referral • Language collections for children and adults
PERSONS RESIDING IN
• Work with the institutional staff in providing library service • Offer library field trips
NON-TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE • CD-ROM language products In reporting on how the library needed to improve services and the challenges faced in adequately serving its special populations, Illinois libraries indicated they needed to aggressively conduct public relations programs, expand branch services for special populations, expand cultural resources, including audiovisual and musical collections, and provide special programs directed at special populations. Some of the obstacles to successful outreach activities included: inadequate staff, inadequate funding, lack of demand, lack of knowledgeable staff and lack of multi-racial staff. They acknowledged that service to special populations also could improve by providing technology, such as computers and CD-ROMs, that provides all special populations access to the information superhighway. *Margaret Collins, Governmental Libraries Consultant, Illinois State Library, Springfield, Illinois. 241 |Home|
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