Language, learning programs come to Monroe County Library

Beginning May 1, the Monroe County Public Library will be presenting both children and adults with the opportunity to explore bilingual stories, songs and games in Spanish and English. The activities and crafts will be open to the public the first Saturday of each month from 10 to 10:45 a.m. They are part of an effort by the library to invite members of the community to be exposed to different ideas through increased multicultural programming.\n"We want to invite English and Spanish speakers interested in introducing themselves and their children to new friends and cultures," said Margaret Harter, community relations spokesman for the Monroe County Library.\nThe monthly event will feature a bilingual story time, which will be sponsored by El Centro de Recursos Familiares, the Latino Family Resource Center located at Trinity Episcopal Church. The stories and guitar music will be those children will likely know.\nAlong with the bilingual Saturday programs, the library has added a Spanish component to its preschool exploration center in the Children's Services Department. The station is designed to allow preschoolers to explore things in a hands-on way. The existing English activities have been labeled in Spanish and are part of a "Say it in Spanish" program that will take place Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. place beginning in May \n"Research has shown that the best time to acquire an additional language is when children are at ages of two and three. This is when their brains are making connections and can benefit exposure to a different language," said Patty Callison of the Monroe County Library Children's Services Department.\nThe Library also has a growing Spanish Language collection on the second floor. Visitors are invited to explore the section, and the library hopes to soon have the ability to allow visitors to search through the collection electronically. A recent grant is to be partially used to provide a catalog entry for the Spanish collection, which will allow faster searches via library computers, said Harter.\nA 2000 census revealed there were 507 Hispanic children under the age of 18 in Monroe County. These children face the difficulties of communicating in a predominately English-speaking environment. The library's programs intend to encourage literacy and exploration.\n"Spanish-speaking children often come from families where no one speaks English at home, making communication with schools and employers difficult. Those residents with no connection to the University typically have fewer resources available, so the Library programming is designed to encourage Spanish speakers to become familiar with the library as a resource" said Nancy Armstrong of the Latino Family Resource Center.\nEach of the new programs at the library is free to anyone interested in learning more about a new culture or language. Those who are interested in participating in either program can call 349-3100 for more information. Also, additional programming details can be found by visiting the Monroe County Library Web site at www.monroe.lib.in.us.\n-- Contact staff writer Tim Callahan at tmcallah@indiana.edu.