Library Services For Multicultural Patrons

Increasingly, libraries are struggling to deal with a growing diversity in the cultural background of their patrons. Problems arising from this cultural diversity afflict all library types--school, public and academic. Library Services for Multicultural Patrons is by and for all libraries that are striving to provide multicultural services to match the growing diversity in the cultural background of patrons. The book is designed to offer helpful tips and practical advice to academic, public, and school librarians who want to better serve the multicultural groups in their communities. The contributors to the book are themselves practicing librarians and they share creative ideas for welcoming multicultural patrons into libraries and strategies for serving them more effectively. Librarians will find in these chapters tried and true tips and techniques for marketing and promotion, improving reference services for speakers of English as a second language, and enhancing programming that they can easily implement in their own libraries and communities. The chapters are divided into the following categories for ease of access: 1) Getting Organized and Finding Partners, 2) Reaching Students, 3) Community Connections, 4) Applying Technology, 6) Outreach Initiatives, 6) Programming and Events, and 7) Reference Services. Librarians of all types will be pleased to discover easy-to-implement suggestions for collaborative efforts, many rich and diverse programming ideas, strategies for improving reference services and library instruction to speakers of English as a second language, marketing and promotional tips designed to welcome multicultural patrons into the library, and much more.

The United States is increasingly faced with the challenge of absorbing new immigrant groups and creating a tolerance for a plurality of cultures. This work argues that, as plurality grows, libraries need to be truly representative of the pluralistic popul

Kelly Webster, 20042005 president of the American Indian Library Association, has edited and annotated a comprehensive bibliography that addresses the library and information needs of indigenous people around the world. Produced in collaboration with six individuals noted for their commitment to serving indigenous people and for a passion to extend library service, Library Services to Indigenous Populations will be a vital resource to students of library and information studies, to librarians planning to establish and expand services, and to cultural anthropologists who recognize the value of preserving and sustaining the diversity of humankind.

Effective administration of libraries is a crucial part of delivering library services to the public. To develop and implement best practices, librarians must be aware and informed of the recent advances in library administration. Library Science and Administration: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications is a comprehensive reference source for the latest scholarly material on trends, techniques, and management of libraries and examines the benefits and challenges of library administration. Highlighting a range of pertinent topics such as digital libraries, information sciences, and academic libraries, this multi-volume book is ideally designed for academicians, researchers, practitioners, and librarians seeking current research on library science and administration.

Meaningful interaction between teachers and students is crucial to any educational environment, and particularly so in intercultural settings. When educators take steps to incorporate culturally responsive teaching into their classrooms, student learning is enriched and improved. The Handbook of Research on Effective Communication in Culturally Diverse Classrooms focuses on the significance of cultural sensitivity toward diverse students and the importance of communication to increase the overall educational experience. Highlighting key concepts relating to curriculum design, teaching models, and critical pedagogies in transcultural classrooms, this book is a pivotal reference source for teachers, teacher educators, and researchers interested in the impact of intercultural communication in learning environments.

Outreach Services in Academic and Special Libraries examines the creation and delivery of outreach programs designed to promote awareness of the library by meeting the information needs of underserved or uninformed patrons. This book contains the experiences of academic and special librarians who describe a wide array of successful outreach programs that are in place throughout the country. This valuable tool introduces professional librarians and library science students and faculty to current and highly innovative models of outreach services implemented in a variety of academic and special library settings.

Creative Management of Small Public Libraries in the 21st Century isan anthology on small public libraries as centers of communities serving populations under 25,000 that make up most of the public library systems in the United States. A wide selection of topics was sought from contributors with varied backgrounds reflecting the diversity of small public libraries. The thirty-two chapters are arranged: Staff; Programming; Management; Technology; Networking; Fundraising; User Services and provide tools to lead a local public library with relevant and successful services. This volume shares a common sense approach to providing a small (in staff size or budget) but mighty (in impact and outcome) public library service. The contributors demonstrate that by turning the service delivery team outward to the community with enthusiasm and positive energy, it is possible to achieve significant results. Many chapters summarize best practices that can serve as checklists for the novice library director or as a review for the more seasoned manager working through new responsibilities. Chapters are tactical, focusing on specific issues for managers such as performance evaluations, effective programming, or e-reader services. Time management is crucial in a small or rural public library as well as the challenges associated with managing Friends and volunteers. While most public libraries do not have the resources to satisfy customer expectations for instant gratification, ultra-convenience and state-of-the-art technologies, The authors of this book details strategies and methods for providing top-notch customer service while moving beyond customer service to the creation of meaningful customer relationships. This volume makes an important contribution to the literature by reminding us that public libraries transform communities of every size. In fact, never before has the role of the public library been a more critical thread in the fabric of community life.