Welcoming New Immigrants

• Click here to find out when Spanish, Somali, and Hmong speaking community liaisons are in the library 

The library offers a multilingual outreach program called Library Links! that serves as a bridge to the library for new communities. The bilingual outreach liaisons employed through Library Links! connect with new immigrant populations in libraries, at schools and in the community.

In Libraries

Library Links! bilingual outreach liaisons welcome bilingual patrons and offer assistance in using the library. The liaisons explain the library's programs and services, including the Homework Helper Program, bilingual story times and the Hosmer and Franklin learning and technology centers.

Bilingual Outreach Liaisons--

• Are available weekly during scheduled times at these libraries: East Lake, Franklin, Hosmer, North Regional, Northeast, and Sumner.
• Give tours and instruction on using the library to individuals or groups.
• Assist patrons in applying for library cards.
• Assist patrons in using the Internet or Microsoft Word in the library.
• Assist patrons in finding or requesting world language materials from the library collection in a variety of formats.
• Offer bilingual storytimes for children in the library.
• Provide Spanish language computer classes at Hosmer Library.
• Interpret in Hmong, Spanish, or Somali as needed to help new immigrants use the library's programs and services.

At Schools

The Library Links! staff works with the Minneapolis Public Schools and other learning centers to reach new immigrant families.

They visit schools and attend family events where they display materials of interest to new immigrants, including videos and periodicals from their home countries, pictorial country books, GED materials, job resources, and story books in multiple languages.

Bilingual Outreach Liaisons--

• Visit classrooms.
• Attend Parent/Teacher meetings.
• Participate in school fairs and festivals.

In the Community

Bilingual outreach liaisons maintain close communication with a network of community contacts serving new immigrants. They connect with people in the community to tell them about library programs and services.

Bilingual Outreach Liaisons--

• Attend community fairs and festivals serving new immigrant communities.
• Visit churches serving new immigrant communities.
• Visit English as a Second Language classes.

Library Collection

Juvenile, teen and adult materials in a variety of formats--books, magazines, software, videos, and music CDs--are available in the library in a variety of languages. The collections also support English language learning, life skills and citizenship preparation, and enhance the library's ongoing efforts in the areas of literacy, academic achievement and lifelong learning.

Contact Library Links! Staff

• English: Caitlin Cowan (612) 630-6429
• Spanish: Vicente Viveros (612) 630-6427, Monica Valbuena (612) 630-6425
• Somali: Mohamed Hassan (612) 630-6428, Warsame Shirwa (612) 630-6424, Fatuma Gure (612) 630-6422
• Hmong: Cha Thao (612) 630-6419