Many newcomers to the United States go to their libraries looking for materials in their native languages, while others turn to the libraries for assistance in learning English.
Spanish-speaking families visit the Round Lake Area Library in Round Lake on Tuesday and Friday mornings to take part in an English literacy program.
The free program provides day care for preschoolers, which removes one of the main stumbling blocks many parents face when they try to attend class.
During the sessions, preschool children participate in their own activities, which not only prepare the children for school but also improve their English skills.
“The initial concern in setting up the program was that people would not be able to come because of day-care problems,” said Barbara Pfannkuche, director of the library.
Carol Falen, program coordinator for ChildServ, a child welfare agency in Ingleside that provided staff for the preschool program, said her agency was interested in more than child care. “While the parents are attending their classes, we do activities with the children that reflect what their parents are learning,” she said. “If the parents are learning the names of the parts of the body, we do activities with the children in which they learn the parts of the body.”
She said the literacy program began 18 months ago and is a joint effort of the library, ChildServ, College of Lake County and the Lake County Council on Literacy.
“One of the first things we found out was that parents wanted less Spanish and more English,” she said. “We have not entirely eliminated Spanish, because we know that these people still want to preserve their language and culture.”
Also, Pfannkuche said, one does not become immediately fluent in English. “English is not an easy language to learn,” she said. “It takes more than six months.”
For one hour each week, the parents and children are brought together for family literacy activities, Falen said.
“We read books, create family albums and give the parents other ideas for activities they can do in their homes to promote literacy,” she said.
Last semester there were 30 participants in the literacy program at the Round Lake Area Library, Pfannkuche said, 10 adults and 20 preschoolers.
