English Language Lab

English Lab Volunteers Increase Hours

WHAT: Library Increases Lab Hours with Volunteers

WHO: English language learners

WHEN: now

WHERE: Wicomico Public Library, Main Library

SALISBURY, MD – Wicomico Public Library is increasing hours at its English Language Learning Lab, thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers. The lab is now staffed whenever the Main Library is open, with Lab hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Volunteer Katie Potvin has been helping in the lab for about six weeks. She volunteers because she is planning to major in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), and this position gives her practice in the field. 
Evelyn Gomez volunteers because she thinks it’s an important place for the community where people can learn English for free and that is a big help. “My mom has used the lab. I know a lot of people who don’t speak English and I tell them to come in because it’s free, there’s no time limit, and it’s easy” Gomez says. 
Potvin says, “One day while working in the lab, a boy and his friend/tutor from Salisbury University came in, and after finishing the lesson he taught his friend and me how to write ‘okie dokie’ in Korean characters. It was really fun.”
Wicomico Public Library received $15,000 to support outreach to county residents who are learning English and becoming citizens. The Library is one of 150 libraries to receive such funding nationwide, and one of only 11 that received funding in 2012 and 2013 from the American Library Association and Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
Funds are used to build capacity, strengthen literacy services and reach out to new library customers. The Library has already expanded its language learning collection, provided information on library services in several languages, and conducted open house programs and tours to introduce library services. The Lab provides access to online language programs, citizenship education programs, basic skills programs and more.