Spanish for Libraries

Language Access

Colorado State Library encourages our libraries to provide resources, materials, services, and education for their community members irrespective of languages spoken or read. Guidance for language access at your library can be found at the link for Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) on the federal government's Limited English Proficiency Language Access Plans webpage.

Language Access Toolkit by Global Wordsmiths
Services to Spanish Speakers on Libraries Learn (learning content, resources)
Resources for Serving Hispanohablante & Latine in Colorado Libraries (PDF)
- Looking for resources from a presentation? Download ^ PDF.

Materials for Libraries

English Posters & Flyers

Spanish Posters & Flyers

Buttons

Yo hablo, 2.25" button (PDF)

Demographics & Population Research

Languages Spoken at Home - Colorado
- Open latest year/ date range category
- Scroll down to "Languages Spoken at Home" heading for various spreadsheets
American Community Survey from US Census Bureau
Colorado State Demography Office 2020 Census Interactive Map
5-Year American Community Survey: Colorado Interactive Map

Collection & Acquisition of Spanish-Language Materials

"How Do I Build a Successful Spanish Collection at My Library?" (PDF)
- Presentation by Carmen Zamarripa and Jorge Romero for CLiC Virtual Winter Workshop 2024
- Includes selection resources, recommended vendors, publishers, and networking information and links

Colorado-based Document Translation with Library Experience

Cvlisto
A2Z Language Services

Organizations & Partners

REFORMA - REFORMA is the national association to promote library and information services to Latinos and Spanish speakers.
- REFORMA Colorado
¡Colorín Colorado! - A bilingual site for English language learners, their educators, and their families geared to early and young readers/ children.
CALMA (Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors)

Español for Library Folx

Español for Library Folx is an eight-week language learning community and conversation circle for library staff in the state of Colorado, hosted by Colorado State Library. This community is not a Spanish language course, nor is it intended to substitute for formal Spanish language instruction. It is intended for beginning to intermediate Spanish speakers or speakers with basic conversational fluency who work in library spaces and want to learn and practice Spanish contextualized for library work. Cohorts meet weekly over an eight-week period to learn and/or practice terms and phrases relevant to library work and library spaces. Sessions will provide the opportunity for peer-learning and practice in a non-judgmental, supportive space.

The program will include:

Hour-long sessions once weekly for eight weeks via Zoom
Support for accessing and utilizing Spanish language learning materials
Basic vocabulary for: Customer Service, Getting a Library Card, Circulation, Events, Reference, Technology
Opportunities to practice basic library service-centered Spanish with other learners in library contexts

For more information on this program, please email Cristy Moran at moran_c@cde.state.co.us

Vocabulary Resources

Reading Materials

Soñadores, por Yuyi Morales – Read aloud in Spanish
Lola en la Biblioteca, por Anna McQuin y Rosalín Beardshaw – Read aloud in Spanish
Make Make at Denver Public Library
- E-cards are open to any applicants regardless of location and retain perpetual access permissions.

Additional Language Learning Materials

The New Spanish for Librarians from REFORMA
Infopeople's Survival Spanish for Library Staff
Language Learning Databases in Colorado Libraries (PDF)
- Mango and Transparent databases have learning tracks for library staff and librarians
- Mango is available through Denver Public Library's databases. E-cards are open to any applicants regardless of location and retain perpetual access permissions.

Adult Library Services Consultant

Cristy Moran (she/ her/ ella) is the Adult Library Services Senior Consultant at the Colorado State Library and is eager to consult with and support you in program development and facilitation, outreach, finding resources, assessment and evaluation, and collaborating with community partners. She is a librarian, an educator, an instructional designer, and an information literacy specialist who has worked in libraries and education for over 15 years. In supporting all Colorado libraries (including public, academic, and special libraries), Cristy's role can best be described as the adult services librarian’s librarian for Colorado.