Public libraries are on the front lines of helping the tens of millions of immigrants and refugees survive and thrive in their new homes.

The foreign-born population accounts for 14%, 17%, and 23% of the populations of the US, UK, and Canada respectively. And they all share the same struggle: learning English.

In the last 15+ years working with librarians, we’ve seen libraries of all sizes, budgets, and demographics offer creative and effective ESL programs.

So, we interviewed them!

We’re sharing their best advice in the How to Support English Language Learners at Your Library guide.

No AI-generated fluff. Just real advice from real librarians supporting ELLs.

In this free guide, you’ll get inspiration and actionable tips from librarians who run the full spectrum of ESL programs. Conversation circles. ELL book clubs. One-on-one tutoring. Immigrant resource fairs. Digital literacy. And beyond.

They get into the nitty gritty of the programs they run: which books they recommend, what tools they use to track tutoring sessions, etc.

And their strategies for welcoming ELLs and encouraging them to participate. A few of our favorite recommendations:

✨ La Shaira Fullwood of Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library on facilitating conversation circles:

“Keep it fun. Correct participants if they ask you to, but you don’t need to lecture or have formal plans. Your role is to create an environment where everyone can participate comfortably and build their confidence. Don’t force them to force words. If you keep it light, keep them laughing, and keep the conversation flowing, you’ll be setting the conditions for success.”

✨ Melissa Wise of Austin Public Library on hosting dual language story time:

“I’m not a TV you sit in front of. Parents are a child’s first teacher. I set a rule for parents to actively engage during the session. Sing the songs. React to the story. Encourage their kids to do the same.”

✨ Adriana Galvan of Saint Paul Public Library on choosing digital literacy services:

“For many newly arrived families, technology is like another language. It needs to be taught in an ELL context. They need to learn the basics of how to use a laptop or smartphone, but they might also need the vocabulary to even be able to understand the content and context about it.”

✨ Andrew Shapira of Newton Public Library on managing a 200+ person tutoring program:

“I use Airtable to streamline the process. Almost all of our tutors and students apply online using Airtable forms. When they submit their application, their info gets populated directly into my database of tutors and students. Having all of that data in one place makes it so much easier for me to manage the wait list, match up tutors, schedule volunteer trainings, and really run all of the logistics.”

Want more advice like this? Get your copy of the guide.