(FORT WAYNE, IN) – The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is pleased to announce a new staff role of Bilingual Program & Partnership Specialist. This person will plan, coordinate and lead system-wide programming for patrons who speak languages other than English. They will also serve as the Library's primary liaison with local organizations, cultural communities, and residents who use the target language and/or speak languages other than English.
“When we say ‘everyone belongs at the ACPL’ we mean it,” said ACPL Executive Director Susan P. Baier. “All of our patrons deserve the same level of support and service regardless of the language they speak. We know we have a lot of work to do in this area, but this is an important step toward ensuring library access is a reality for all of our neighbors.”
In late 2023, the ACPL Board of Trustees unanimously approved the addition of the position following a proposal from the Library’s leadership team and with the recommendation of an extensive study into library services for immigrants and refugees. This study, conducted by Petra Solutions, LLC, showed the Library had the unique opportunity to be a place of great service and impact for immigrants and refugees.
“We developed this position to act as a point of contact and connection for non-English speakers and the agencies/organizations that serve them,” said Baier, “The study reinforced that we must serve our immigrant and refugee neighbors with intentionality and compassion, or we risk missing an opportunity to have an impact in a large and ever-growing part of our community.”
The Bilingual Programs and Partnerships Specialist is a full-time position with flexible scheduling. The position requires fluency in Spanish, Burmese, or other prominent local languages. The ACPL encourages interested applicants with a Master’s degree, bilingual skills, and experience in libraries, social work, business, education and/or related fields, to apply at acpl.lib.in.us/careers.
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