Hola! ¿Habla usted español?

According to the latest census, the Latino population of Des Plaines is the largest minority group in the community, and the library continues to add resources and services for people who speak Spanish. The new catalog, iBistro, is available in Spanish as well as English. The library has fiction and nonfiction books in Spanish for children and adults. Magazines and immigration guides are available in Spanish, as well as online and print versions of encyclopedias. There are videos of popular films dubbed in Spanish and Spanish language films with English subtitles.

Spanish language music cassettes and CDs are available for adults and children. There are also bilingual versions of children’s CD ROMs. The foreign language center has audiocassettes to teach English to the Spanish speaking. A special computer allows patrons to learn and study at their own pace and to practice English pronunciation.

Partnerships with area schools bring children and families from Spanish-speaking households to the library for special evenings. On these occasions, Spanish language tours and library card registration are offered. Bilingual library staff also visit schools for on-site library card signup. Spanish language programs have included storytimes for children and an adult program on citizenship.

Last year, the library was chosen to participate in the North Suburban Library System Diversity Internship Grant project. The grant paid the salary of an intern who is fluent in both English and Spanish. Intern Jaime Gutierrez worked part-time for 10 weeks in the Youth Services Department and on the Mobile Library. He conducted Spanish storytimes, translated library flyers into Spanish, and organized a lively fiesta, complete with piñata, which attracted more than 100 children.

Jaime Gutierrez helps a family with a craft project during a fiesta at the library. More than 100 children attended.

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