ERIC Number: ED381033
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1994
Pages: 10
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Role of the School Library in Serving LEP/ESL Students.
Dame, Melvina Azar
This paper provides ideas implemented by one school librarian to improve and encourage the use of the school library by Limited-English-Proficiency (LEP) and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students at the school. First, a description is given of how the librarian fostered a positive and welcoming environment for introducing the students to the school library. Also discussed are the efforts made by the librarian to provide hands-on activities, explanations, demonstrations of the various areas of the library and their uses and reading materials in the students' first languages which introduce them to the library collection, what kind of resources can be provided to ESL as well as mainstream teachers by the librarian, how collaborating with other agencies outside of the school who serve ESL students can benefit the students, the coordination of multicultural activities, and activities for promoting literacy skills. It is suggested that through library services provided for ESL/LEP students, these students can become equal participants in society through access to information and knowledge and thus have the opportunity to engage in the whole range of literacy. (VWL)
Descriptors: Access to Information, Advance Organizers, Cooperation, Cultural Awareness, Elementary Secondary Education, English (Second Language), Librarians, Library Role, Library Services, Limited English Speaking, Literacy, Resource Materials, School Libraries, Second Language Learning, Spanish, Spanish Speaking
Publication Type: Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Media Staff; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A