To bridge the digital divide, U.S. libraries are crossing the language barrier.

Sustaining public access computing in public libraries requires that these services be relevant and accessible to local communities. According to 2002 U.S. Department of Commerce data, only 31.6 percent of Hispanics used the Internet in public libraries, ranking them near the bottom of all demographic groups. Despite these national statistics, the libraries we worked with in many states reported heavy demands for computers that were formatted for Spanish-language use. Moreover, library staff told us they needed more support to communicate with and train Spanish speakers who wanted to use public computers. These insights, combined with the extraordinary growth of the Hispanic population, convinced us that an investment in outreach to Spanish-language communities was critical.

To promote sustainability, U.S. libraries are crossing the language barrier to reach Spanish-speaking patrons. Our grantee WebJunction, which helps librarians work with technology, launched a Spanish-language pilot program at the end of 2004 to help libraries reach out to Spanish speakers. The program started in four states: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and New Mexico. At the end of 2005, it had expanded to 11 states, and more states are planned for 2006 and 2007.

The pilot program is designed to train librarians to conduct workshops in their own communities to help libraries assess the needs of Spanish speakers, offer more Spanish-language services, and build better relationships with Spanish speakers by improving promotional efforts and forming partnerships with community organizations. These efforts will not only make libraries more relevant in Hispanic communities but will also help sustain public access computing programs in libraries that serve these communities.

The results from the first four states were encouraging. Half of the participating libraries offered Spanish-language computer classes after the workshops, compared to 35 percent before the workshops. Nine percent of these libraries built new partnerships with Hispanic groups after the workshops, and 46.4 percent strengthened existing partnerships.

Based on feedback from the early states, WebJunction plans to enhance the program as it moves into more states. It will add an extra day to the training, include follow-up training for librarians who complete the first session, develop self-paced online classes, and conduct surveys in Spanish-speaking communities to gauge the program's impact more effectively.