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The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is offering Spanish Immersion for Professionals August 6-10 on campus. The program is designed for professionals such as customer service representatives, call center employees, hospitality workers, social workers, bankers, teachers and health care workers. Students will participate in language classes by skill level as determined by an online pretest.

Registration is due by Monday, July 23rd.

Visit the web site for details or call (800) 621-2313.

Don’t miss the new ALA study on serving non-English speakers in the library. Here are some surprising facts:

• The majority of libraries serving non-English speakers are in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents.
• Spanish is, by far, the most supported non-English language in public libraries. Seventy-eight percent of libraries reported Spanish as the priority #1 language to which they develop services and programs.
• Libraries reported the most successful library programs and services developed for non-English speakers were: English as a Second Language (ESL), language-specific materials and collections, computer use and computer classes, story time and special programs.

The full report includes library use statistics, building detail and findings by language.

> contributed by Holly

If you are planning to celebrate El Día de los Niños at your library there are complimentary bilingual brochures available to help you celebrate this special day. The brochure features an updated recommended reading list and tips for parents in English and Spanish for reading to and with children. The April 30 celebration is devoted to emphasizing the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

For more information about Dia, and to register your Dia event to receive complimentary brochures, please go to the Dia Web site.  You may request up to 200 brochures while supplies last.

If you have any questions, you may contact ALA at dia@ala.org.

> contributed by Holly

Check out the new website, America Reads Spanish. This website brings together publishing information for Spanish books including new release information, author interviews, and events to name just a few features.

A companion guide was also created, Essential guide to Spanish Reading. This document brings together the publishing, acquisition and collection development of Spanish books for libraries. The publication is available free by contacting Isabel Neal at ineal@mcx.es.

>> contributed by Holly