Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of Multilingual Collections and Services

3.4.2 Provide the same level of service for interlibrary loan in all languages as for the English-speaking patrons.

3.4.3 Provide reference and referral services about multicultural and multilingual local resources.

3.4.4 Provide bibliographic instruction in appropriate languages as necessary.

4.0 Staffing

4.1 Library staff working with patrons who have limited English abilities should be multilingual in order to provide effective service.

4.2 Offer continuing education or staff development programs that promote sensitivity and cultural, ethnic, and linguistic awareness of the staff and enhance their abilities in dealing with ethnically different patrons.

4.3 Library staff with expertise in languages and cultures should share their expertise with other staff and other libraries and be recognized and financially compensated for these abilities.

4.4 Schools of library science should advertise the need for multicultural and multilingual librarians and actively recruit people of linguistic and ethnic minorities. They should offer courses that deal with the issues involved in serving an ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse society.

Prepared by the Library Services to the Spanish-Speaking Committee, Reference Services Section of the Reference and User Services Association, American Library Association. Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, January 2007.

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