vib8706.htm

Short Reports

An Outreach Program at the Braille Institute Library

R.D. Amaya

Abstract: This paper summarizes outreach programs of the Braille Institute Library serving the Hispanic community in the ten southern counties of California. The intention is to outline the program objectives and the experiences and results obtained since the program's inception early in this decade.

'I'lic National Library Service of the Library of Congress administers its national reading program for blind and physically handicapped readers through a cooperativc network that has grown from the original 18 libraries in 1931 to about 160 state and local libraries. This network services a total readership of nearly 800,000, circulating 600,000 braille items and more than 16 million recorded books and magazines each year.

As of 1986, the network had 56 regional libritries in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Routine services include book circulation, outreach, publicity, tape duplication, equipment assignment, publications distribution, reader advisory service, reference, and production ofl ocal-interest materials.

'i'he Braille Institute Library in Los Angeles is one of the two regional libraries in California. It services the 10 counties of Southern California, while the State library in Sacramento provides for the northern portion of the state. The Braille library last year circulated approximately 40,000 units from a book collection that totals 393,000.

There are more than 50,000 legally blind Californians; 30,000 live in Southern California. Last year, more than 16,000 visually and physically handicapped persons received services from the Braille Institute Library. This figure does not include almost 4000 additional readers who receive service through cooperating agencies.

Another statistic peculiar to California, and particularly to Southern California, is that it is now the center of the fastest growing ethnic group in the country. Hispanics now make up 27.5 percent of the Los Angeles population and 22.6 percent of the total population of the 10 southern counties in California. Consequently, the job of providing library services to the blind and physically handicapped members of this population has become increasingly challenging.

An Hispanic outreach program has been in effect at the Braille Institute Library for one year. In August, 1982, a Spanish language librarian was hired with the mandate to develop and implement an outreach program to bring to the Spanish- speaking community of Southern California the entire scope of library services available through the Braille Institute Library.

The first task was to establish objectives for such a program and to devise the ways and means of achieving them.

Program objectives

External

1. To establish and demonstrate an effective library;

2. To introduce materials and services and the value of these to the Hispanic community;

3. To encourage the use of the library by individuals, groups, and organizations previously unaware of library services; and

4. To test materials and reassess the library's collection in meeting the interests and needs of the local Hispanic community.

Internal

1. To create an awareness of Hispanic community needs among library staff.

Once the objectives were defined, the second task was to establish a logical procedure for their accomplishment. The outreach program was divided into three phases:

1) to gather background data to assess the Hispanic community; 2) to develop necessary materials and guidelines to implement outreach; and 3) to implement the outreach program by specific projects.

The following is an outline of each phase of the program. Following the outline, the various activities, both accomplished and/or planned, are discussed.

Phase 1: Background data

In order to develop the outreach program effectively, we need to know the scope and to define the nature of the Hispanic community, its location, mobility, and sociocultural behavior. It is necessary to establish a characteristic profile from available data based on the following factors regarding the Hispanic community;

a. static or transitional in nature

b. growth or non-growth

c. monolingual or bilingual

d. ages

e. handicapped

f. national origins: Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American, South American, Spanish, etc.

g. educational levels

There is a need to be conscious of the following whenever possible:

a) generation differences

b) class distinctions

c) old and new life styles

d) language differences

A profile of potential users must be established through personal contacts with Hispanic or Anglo service organizations. Potential users must be identified wherever possible, utilizing any and all sources available, i.e., select organizations listed in Ethnic Groups in Califomia; select organizations from Hispanic Community o fthe County of Los Angeles, Study and Directory.

Churches

This last activity may prove to be very important because it will provide actual contact with the community. It is possible to gain valuable experience from the responses and in turn to form liaisons with community groups which can be utilized to help promote services. Seek advice and assistance from library consultants who have had successful experience in Hispanic community research, survey techniques, data analysis, etc.

Background data sources

1. Census population-US Census Bureau Library

2. City and county offices, or Data Service Bureau

3. SCAG (South California Association of Governments) census population publications

4. Selected associations and organizations that may have gathered statistics on Hispanics and their needs (may provide personal interviews and contacts with prominent liaison individuals in community)

5. Data from libraries, especially those in mainly Hispanic neighborhoods.

Phase II: Necessary materials and guidelines

One important aspect of development is to establish effective contacts with the community. It is necessary to develop their support for the project, support that can manifest itself in their serving as liaisons to bring community people to the library, to serve as an information resource, and to encourage as broad an audience for the library as possible. These contacts can also help with designing library service programs and perhaps collection development. Besides developing the goodwill and cooperation of the community, we must plan and develop specific internal materials as follows:

A. An application form in Spanish Programs for presentations at libraries in areas with a large Hispanic population

B. Appropriate promotional brochures describing services

C. Seminars, especially with organizations which serve handicapped individuals

D. A slide presentation in Spanish on services offered for use in demonstrations at Hispanic clubs, organizations, homes, libraries, etc.

E. A press kit for distribution to any company or organization that has a publication that reaches the Hispanic community

F. Special reading lists of exclusive interest to Hispanics

G. Releases for local production of Spanish language titles

H. Recruitment of Spanish-speaking volunteers to record materials for inclusion in Library collection

Collection development

Develop guidelines and a selection policy for purchasing Spanish titles for local recording.

Measuring user satisfaction

1. Internal survey-questionnaire to measure the level of our present service, patron use of it, whys and why nots

2. External survey-solicit information and statistics from other libraries on their need for our services

3. Meetings with organized user groups

4. Regularly scheduled user forums

5. Encouragment of users to report specific problems and/or make suggestions

6. Periodic follow-up with users to determine the effectiveness of agency responses to referred inquiries

Out-of-area development

Develop contacts with libraries outside California that serve large Hispanic communities for dialogue and sharing of ideas, etc. (Texas, New Mexico, New York, Florida, Mexico and the Latin American countries).

Phase III: Implementation of specific projects

Activities for the last phase of the outreach program will include the following:

Publicizing and advertising services

Because of the large service area, advertising efforts can be divided into two kinds:

a) Media which reaches the entire region, i.e., newspapers, radio, television

b) Media which is of a local nature, i.e., small town/city newspapers, local radio stations

Radio-Public service spots, interviews, specifically with Hispanic patrons

Television-Public service spots, interviews as above, also demonstration programs on talk shows, etc.

Newspapers-Articles about services, events open to the public at the Library, etc.

Magazines-If space is donated, placement of special ads

Placards/Posters-Strategically placed at bus stops, public phones, markets, stores, and other public areas in Hispanic neighborhoods

Other-Placement of articles in Spanish in our library newsletter or other Braille Institute publications, or development of a Spanish publication of the same nature exclusively for Hispanics

Personal Contacts

a. As organizations and individuals indicate specific needs, a list will be kept of these for future use under another phase of the project. Also, as we get results from our advertising, contacts should grow.

b. A contact and referral point can be through public libraries with large Hispanic populations, where talks and demonstrations can be scheduled specifically for Hispanic patrons.

c. Another contact can be through Hispanic churches where demonstrations can be scheduled, with advance notices in church bulletins, specifically for Hispanic members. Referrals can also be acquired from this source through bulletin use of materials from our press kit, which can motivate interest.

d. Arrange Braille Institute tours for Hispanic elderly, children, church groups, etc.

e. Provide reader advisory services Spanish as requested in library.

f. Provide services, support and training institutes serving the Hispanic community.

g. Recruit Hispanic volunteers.

Purchase

Subscribe to the local Spanish newspapers to be used as information sources on events and organizations in the Hispanic community for contact regarding our service promotion.

Phase I results

Background data to assess the Hispanic community

To begin work on the first phase, that of gathering background statistics in an effort to assess the Hispanic community the best results were obtained from a visit to the U.S. Census Bureau Library in Los Angeles. From all the statistics obtained, a population characteristic profile for the ten county-area was constructed. This profile features the following:

a) Census of California population

b) County Hispanic population and percentages of total population

c) National origin breakdown by county

d) Age levels

e) Education levels

f) Totals of population by city within the ten-county area

Statistical highlights derived from the profile follow:

1. The total California population is approximately 24 million (23,668,562)

2. The total population of the ten southern counties is almost 15 million; this is approximately 60 percent of the states population.

3. The Hispanic population in the southern ten-county area is 22.6 percent of the total ten county population. The ten-county Hispanic population breaks down by national origin as follows:

Mexican 81%

Puerto Rican 17.5%

Cuban 16.4%

Other 14.7%

4. More than 50 percent of the Hispanic population of each county is of Mexican descent.

5. The largest age group in the largest cities (Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Anaheim, Santa Ana) is 15-19.

6. In this area, there is a larger number of senior citizens in the 65 + age group than in the 60-64 group.

7. In this area the largest number have an education level of 0-8 years of schooling.

8. This area contains 65 percent of the state's total Hispanic population.

9. Slightly more males than females.

Statistics on handicapped Hispanics

Additional statistics were also obtained from the California State Department of Rehabilitation regarding handicapped Hispanics in the state. Since the department only aids people under the age of 65, their statistics correspondingly do not include persons over that age. According to the Department's statistics, there are a total of 21,529 Hispanics statewide who are either blind or severely visually impaired. If we apply the 60 percent figure, based on the fact that 60 percent of the state's population live in Southern California, we can approximate a figure of 12,917 Hispanics in the visually handicapped category in the ten-county area.

Based on the detailed charts of the above data, Phase II was implemented. Data gathered was sufficient to give this project a substantial understanding of the composition and nature of the Hispanic community. The development of promotional materials to reach these patrons proved to be an extensive open-end project that may include anything from a basic application form to detailed surveys which measure services to this group of users at a later date.

Phase II: Results

Materials development

One of the most necessary items was an application form in Spanish. There was one available but it was an older form which asked outdated questions. The newer English version of the application was translated into Spanish but printed on yellow paper. The change to yellow was rnade as a color code to indicate a Spanish reader. This change has proved to be a great first step because not only does the application form resemble the English one in format, it enables the Spanish reader to know and understand his request for service and to be served in his own language.

A welcome letter which is used as follow-up communication with new Hispanic applicants after service is initiated was also developed. The same procedure is followed with English readers, so the registration section now has the Spanish welcome letter sent to Hispanic readers as part of their follow-up routine.

In addition, an information leaflet in Spanish accompanies the welcome letter. The information included in this leaflet is quite general. It reintroduces the library, describes briefly the free service, equipment, accessories, book collection, and magazines. It concludes with a reminder for the patron to keep the library informed about any changes, i.e., name, address, telephone, which may affect his service. Any changes a patron reports are immediately made on the computer so his record is always up-to-date.

Spreading the word

The perfect starting place for introducing this outreach program to the community was through some of the public libraries which already had the talking book service. Since several of these are located in large Hispanic communities, like Long Beach and San Diego, it was a matter of making this outreach service known to the personnel in charge of the service at every library. This was actually accomplished in several ways. One was through the timeliness the of the September Public Librarians' Workshop, held annually at the Braille Institute. In 1982, approximately 80 librarians attended and the outreach program was described by the Spanish language librarian. Thus, word started to go out that the Braille Institute Library was developing an outreach program to the Hispanic community and had a Spanish language librarian on staff.

Another method was through visits to do follow-up presentations at libraries with talking book service. An outgrowth of this has been that I am able to approach specific libraries, especially in the Los Angeles area, and propose that they incorporate our Spanish talking book service into their library services, thereby expanding their own service to the Hispanic community in which they exist.

One such successful contact was with the Santa Ana Public Library in Orange County. Santa Ana has an Hispanic population of 90,646. It has two branches in addition to its main library. The initial approach with the director was strictly from the standpoint of the Hispanic Outreach Program, but because he was so receptive and because they had no talking book service at all, the entire National Library Service program was discussed. This is one case in which the outreach program served to open the door to a full discussion of the talking book program as a benefit for the entire community.

The spring issue of The Librarian, the quarterly library newsletter mailed to all patrons, carried the official announcement of the addition of a Spanish language librarian to the Braille Institute Library staff and the Hispanic Outreach Program. In the summer issue of The Librarian, a column in Spanish was begun, containing information on new books, events, equipment, and other announcements of interest to our Hispanic patrons.

Besides all of these activities which, have helped to spread the word that the Braille Institute Library now has a Spanish language librarian, several workshops and conferences have helped accomplish this even better. It was fortunate that both the California Library Association Conference (1982) and the American Library Association Convention (1983) were held in Los Angeles. The National Library Service, helped by the Braille Institute Library staff, exhibited at both.

Phase III: Results

Implementation of specific projects

A publication entitled Hispanic Community of the County of Los Angeles, Study and Directory (University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Institute for Hispanic Media and Culture, 1982) has been of great help in providing names, addresses, and telephone numbers of many Hispanic organizations.

A promotional letter in Spanish was sent out to selected organizations from the directory. It outlines the talking book service available and offers presentations by the Spanish language librarian. This has brought some response and presentations for several groups, clubs, and senior service centers have been scheduled. At these presentations, which are made in Spanish, the free talking book library programs, the equipment available, the procedure for requesting the service and what qualifies a blind or physically handicapped individual for it are discussed. Copies of the Spanish application are distributed and patrons signed up on the spot in order to expedite their service. Other presentations are made solely for the purpose of informing staff at service centers. It is important to educate the community, especially professionals who serve the Hispanic community as well.

Public library survey

In an effort to find out what the public libraries might need, expect, and want from the Braille Institute Library to help them promote and/or move the service for the blind and handicapped, a survey questionnaire was sent out to the 83 public libraries, both city and county, which offer the talking book service. Of the 83 questionnaires issued, 35 libraries or 42 percent responded.

The survey was predictably responsive from those libraries which have their own library outreach programs, like the San Diego County Library System. This system has a very active outreach staff and a program that provides library services to the handicapped as well as to the Hispanic community.

On the survey, libraries indicated whether they have Spanish language print collections, as well as what subjects are the most popular. This information will be valuable in future book selection for the recording of titles at the Braille Institute.

Most important, information was received on how and which of the libraries promote the talking book service and what kind of help they need in order to better expand the service to their Hispanic patrons. The results confirmed an already proposed idea for a pamphlet or brochure in Spanish, as well as a poster in Spanish to attract patrons by calling their attention to the availability of the service for the blind and physically handicapped.

The Braille Institute Library holds an annual open house for patrons and friends every August. This year, a poster in Spanish giving all the pertinent information was mailed to all the public libraries with the talking book service. This gesture should indicate to them that we can provide help with the promotion of the free library services for the blind and physically handicapped. There are many benefits to be reaped by the local libraries the most important being is the excellent public relations they can create with their public by providing the service to qualified individuals right in their own communities.

Radio and television

SIN, the major Spanish television channel in Los Angeles, requested an interview and description of one of the reference books in our library-namely, the World Book Encyclopedia on cassette. Although this is not a Spanish resource, the interview and demonstration were done for the Spanish viewers as a segment of a program which offers them information about community resources.

Through a contact with an outreach librarian from San Bernardino County, a half-hour radio inteview was done for KNSE, a station which reaches a four county area around Ontario, California. As a result of this program, two Los Angeles Spanish-language radio stations requested similar interviews. These were also done as segments of public service programs on two of the best-known stations in the city, KLUV and KTNQ.

Book selection policy

Another accomplishment which will have future value is the development of a book selection policy for Spanish titles. This will be ready by the time we begin to purchase titles for local recording, which will enlarge our local Spanish collection beyond the quantity of titles produced by the National Library Service.

Reader advisory services

Along with all the above activities, personal library service to Hispanic patrons on a walk-in basis is provided. This varies from initiating a new patron to the service potential, explaining the use of the equipment, selecting and issuing books for patrons, and answering questions as required. This aspect of the outreach program has proved to be the most rewarding experience because so many Hispanic individuals express their gratitude profusely in being able to obtain the talking book service in Spanish.

There is a great variety of patrons who come in daily seeking the enjoyment books can provide. Some of these are young, blind adults who are involved with classes but who still wish to read light novels or non-fiction and some are like the 99-yearold patron from Spain who makes a monthly trek to the library for his supply of books. Although these can be mailed to him, he prefers coming into the library.

Each day brings a new challenge, and some of the tasks outlined in the three phases of the program still remain to be accomplished, but every new development opens a new door for outreach. Much still remains to be done, but in the course of one year, the program is off to a good start.

References

California Institute of Public Affairs (1981). Ethnic groups in California. Claremont, CA.

Rene D. Amaya, field services librarian, formerly Spanish language librarian, Braille Institute Library, Los Angeles, CA 90029.