"Moving from Collaboration to Partnership"

Last year the Azusa City Library received a Sparks! Ignition grant from IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services). The grant focus was to explore the dynamics and pathway involved for us to move from leading a collaboration of local organizations to creating an effective partnership to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction throughout the community. In other words, our goal was to move our program – Grassroots ESL -- from being “the library’s program,” to being “the community’s program,” with shared ownership and responsibility. This white paper is a summary of our year of exploration.Last year the Azusa City Library received a Sparks! Ignition grant from IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services).  The grant focus was to explore the dynamics and pathway involved for us to move from leading a collaboration of local organizations to creating an effective partnership to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction throughout the community.  In other words, our goal was to move our program – Grassroots ESL --  from being “the library’s program,” to being “the community’s program,” with shared ownership and responsibility.  This whitepaper is a summary of our year of exploration.