In order for libraries to best serve language learners, they need to participate in community engagement and outreach. Community engagement is a multi-way communication path, which drives public participation in programs and services. Community members themselves participate actively in the decision-making process and builds relationships with others in the community (Donovan, n.d.). Outreach, on the other hand, is a one-way path of communication, in which library staff work to increase awareness about a program or service (Donovan, n.d.). Both are equally important in library service, and neither should be forgone.

Outreach can look like handing out flyers to the language subscriptions a library uses, or hanging up a poster for an upcoming event. Community engagement could be partnering with local organizations which already serve language learners to offer off-site programming, or working with community members to build a specific program they wish to attend. While these are just some examples, there are a wide variety of ways in which libraries can participate in community engagement and outreach. Here, I would like to highlight three libraries who offer exemplar services for language learners.

So, where can your library start when it comes to community engagement and outreach?

• Make (at least) one new connection in the language learning world: this could be connecting with a language learner, a local school's foreign language teacher, a local center for immigrants, or a local religious organization (especially if they offer services in other languages).

• Learn how to use your library's interpretation and translation software: Many libraries offer free-of-charge access to an interpretation and/or translation software. If yours does, learn how to use it. If they do not, find one you can use and advocate for your library to start using one.

• Don't fear the pilot: Be willing to start programs at your library, especially ones done in partnership with other organizations. When marketed well, a successful pilot program can lead to other organizations, supporters, and attendees to want to join the program, or at the very least look into the library more.

• Choose one language spoken frequently in your area and learn some basic phrases: Even if you only know a little bit, use the language with patrons who speak that langauge. They will usually be very appreciative and will tell others they know that you speak it. Soon enough, you will have people seeking you out specifically because they know you care about their community enough to start learning their langauge.

• Reach out multiple times: Just because an organization or person does not respond after one email or phone call does not necessarily mean they are not interested in a partnership. Most people are also incredibly busy and may have simply forgotten to respond or not had sufficient time to respond. Reach out 2 or 3 times before moving on to the next organization, but feel free to reach out to them again next year. They may have had staff turnover, budget changes, or new programs that lead to them being interested in future partnerships.