Let’s talk!
I like to talk, especially about libraries! Hopefully you also like to talk about libraries and library stuff.
When English is your first language, and not the first language of the patron standing in front of you, it is harder to share ideas about the wonderful things we have to offer.
What can we, as library people, do to make that experience better for everyone? We can reach out!
It would be great to learn at least a few words of languages spoken by people in your community. Just making that effort can help to speed better conversation and sharing of information.It would not be too tough to find someone to translate your library card application (if you have one) into another language, or to translate at least a page of your website with some basic library info to help speed along questions and answers.
Where should you start in learning another language, or providing some basic services in addition to English? Think about the most commonly asked questions in your library, or start keeping track of questions. Start with those. Then just use some common sense about the things people would need to know.
Here are a few basics for you to translate so you can communicate and share information:
- Hello! Even if this is your only word, you are off to a good conversational start
- “Sorry, I don’t speak [local language]” This is surprisingly helpful, as at least the person you are working with sees that you understand how hard it is to make yourself understood in another language
- directions to the bathroom
- directions to the Circ desk
- directions to the Reference desk
- where to find a list of upcoming programs
- library card application and process (Note: you may want to emphasize that no library will ask for a green card or social security card. We generally just need to verify addresses.)
- days and hours you are open
- how to sign up for a computer
- where to find a special collection that you have advertised or promoted
You will think of other things that will be relevant to your library, and to help your community.
Consider having signs printed up all over the place in multiple languages, and some handouts at your desk with material printed out in another language. It may help promote understanding and sharing of good ideas.
It should go without saying, but in case it doesn’t: any complaints that the library should be English-only need to be shut down hard. We are a service profession, our job is to share ideas and information and our tools are materials, programs, and services. We work to serve our community members as they are, we do not demand that they conform to some arbitrary expectations some random person thought up in their heads.
Go look for some people to help you translate material, and find some services to help you learn some important words and phrases. You might start right at your local public library, for example! They probably have a lot of great material to help everyone hone their language skills.
(Being bilingual, or multilingual, has some great benefits for your brain too! Get in on this action, and help to preserve your brain!!)