Service to a Beautiful Mosaic: The Information Needs of the English as a Second Language (ESL) Community

Abstract

The community of English as a Second Language (ESL) learners is important and growing as the number of global immigrants increases. These English language learners form a community around their need to increase access and ultimately increase knowledge, not only of the English language, but of other services that support their community. Working together to achieve common goals—learning English, seeking materials in their native language(s), getting help for their children in new schools—brings the ESL community together and fosters social connectedness to the community’s partners, including ESL teachers, translators, librarians, and social workers. Reijo Savolainen’s everyday life seeking model is useful in understanding how the ESL community seeks, uses, and shares information. This research paper seeks to understand the information needs of the ESL community and how libraries and information centers can best serve those needs. As part of my research, I scrutinized academic literature and sought out community-based sources to develop an understanding of the information needs of the ESL community. The thematic elements of technology use, community partnership and outreach, and moving beyond books are relevant not only to supporting the ESL community but also to fostering connection and engagement with the community at large.