Libraries play an important role in connecting immigrant communities and saving lives by providing access to information. According to the facts presented, over 12.9% of the US population is foreign-born and 1 in 6 Americans are Hispanic. 21% of Americans speak a language other than English at home. The Queens Library aims to increase its online services for non-English speakers by developing customized in-house databases and social media in various languages. It also wants to offer on-demand printing to benefit small business owners and first-time authors. Improving access to information through libraries is important and a matter that should involve library decision makers, front-line librarians, elected officials, community leaders, and the general public.

1. Libraries:
Connecting and Saving Lives
L o id a G a r c ia -F e b o
C o o r d in a to r , N e w A m e r ic a n s P r o g r a m a t Q u e e n s L ib r a r y
D igital+Libraries C onnectivity, C onvergence, C onfluence
J u ly 1 0 , 2 0 1 2

2. Access to information
saves lives.

3. F a c ts
1 2 .9 9 % o f th e U .S . p o p u la tio n is fo r e ig n -b o r n .
1 in 6 A m e r ic a n s is H is p a n ic .
(1 6 % o f th e to ta l p o p u la tio n )
2 1 % o f th e U .S . p o p u la tio n s p e a k a n o th e r
la n g u a g e .

4. Access to information
↓
connect with people

6. C u r r e n t o n lin e s e r v ic e s
• D e v e lo p in g
– in -h o u s e d a ta b a s e s , s o c ia l m e d ia , v id e o s .
• A c c e s s to
– e -b o o k s , a u d io b o o k s , m u s ic .

7. N ext
In c r e a s e c u s to m iz e d in -h o u s e d a ta b a s e s a n d
s o c ia l m e d ia in v a r io u s la n g u a g e s .
P r in t o n d e m a n d -> b e n e fit s m a ll b u s in e s s o w n e r s a n d
fir s t-tim e a u th o r s .
L e n d ite m s th a t w o u ld s o lv e p r o b le m s !

8. A matter for
Library decision makers
Front-line librarians
Elected officials
Community leaders
Everyone!

9. L in k s
IFLAUNESCO Multicultural Manifesto
http://www.ifla.org/publications/iflaunesco-multicultural-library-manifesto
Los Angeles Public Library, Español http://www.lapl.org/espanol/
Multicutural Communities: Guidelines for Library Services, 3rd edition
h ttp ://w w w .ifla .o r g /p u b lic a tio n s /m u ltic u ltu r a l-c o m m u n itie s -g u id e lin e s -fo r -lib r a r y -s e r v ic e s -3 r d -e d
PEW Research Center Latino Digital Divide: Native Born vs. Foreign Born
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1681/latino-digital-divide-native-born-vs-foreign-born
PEW Research Center Latinos and Digital Technology, 2010
http://www.pewhispanic.org/2011/02/09/latinos-and-digital-technology-2010/
PEW Research Center, PEW Internet and American Life Project Digital Divide
http://pewinternet.org/topics/Digital-Divide.aspx?typeFilter=5
Queens Library en Español in Facebook http://www.facebook.com/queenslibraryespanol
UNESCO Public Library Manifesto
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/libraries/manifestos/libraman.html