Providence, RI

An initiative adopted by the Providence Public Library that breaks down social, economic, and educational barriers by providing language training to non-English speaking families.

The Rhode Island Family Literary Initiative (RIFLI) offers courses on citizenship preparation, computer skills, as well as children and teen educational support classes.

Nuts and Bolts:

• The RIFLI was implemented in the 1980s by library staff across the state as a response to increased levels of immigration into Rhode Island.
• The program was based upon the ‘Even Start’ literacy programs but was altered to a library setting and, for added accessibility, the programs were offered in the evening.
• Currently, the RIFLI operates seventeen ESL language programs in thirteen library branches and community centers. RIFLI works with many local school departments and library associations as well as local development organizations such as Providence Head Start.
• The majority of individuals who use the program are newly arrived immigrants who are commonly defined by their low-income status.
• The Providence Public Library offers RIFLI classes daily and also provides one on one attention with individuals and families by appointment.
• In 1995, Congress removed the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) supported federal funding it had provided to libraries to maintain these programs. Responding to this loss of funding, librarians and literacy advocates collaborated to secure funding from the Rhode Island Foundation. Additional branch funding has been granted by Bank of America, the City of Pawtucket Community Block Grant Program, Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds through the R.I. Office of Library & Information Services and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Providence Public Library, and The R.I. Department of Education - Family Literacy and EL/Civics Funding.

Successes:

• Over the past seven years, RIFLI has provided services to 1,252 families with 5,751 adults and 2,597 children.
• Program attendance has raised about 10 percent a year to the current level of 1,330 yearly participants.
• RIFLI reports that in 2005, 16 percent of their students were unemployed, which is an increase from 2001 when the rate was 5 percent and even from 2004 when it was 11 percent. RIFLI recognizes the growing non-English speaking population and believes that more services and education are needed for these individuals so that they may enter the workforce.

For more information on this program: Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative, The Providence Public Library