Jeremiah King is a dedicated student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who recently completed a practicum experience at the Lenoir City Public Library. He has made significant contributions to the library and its community, particularly by focusing on expanding services for Spanish-speaking residents.
King is in his second year of the Master of Science in Information Sciences program but did not initially consider becoming a librarian.
“I’ve taught ballroom dance for twenty years. I’m an alumnus of UT, where I earned a degree in classics with a concentration in Latin. I was looking to try something different, and many options I was considering required a degree in information sciences or library sciences. After researching, I found that UT has a great program,” he explained.
King resides in Loudoun County, Tennessee, which has a population of around fifty to sixty thousand people, including a large Spanish-speaking community. The Lenoir City Public Library, located in the heart of the city, is one of only five libraries in the county, making it a popular destination.
“We have the most foot traffic due to our location. Last year, we circulated around 82,000 items, so we’re fairly busy,” said Susan Dorsey, director of Lenoir City Public Library.
King and his wife are two of those regular patrons, which is how King discovered the need for a more diverse collection of books.
King noted, “My wife loves the library and is always there. I had gone a few times and noticed that there weren’t many Spanish books available, despite a large number of Spanish speakers in our city.”
Although King does not speak fluent Spanish himself, he thinks it’s important that all community members have the resources they need to succeed. After discussions with the library’s director, King realized he wanted to address this gap.
Dorsey said, “He approached me and asked if he could be considered for a practicum here. He talked about the needs he had observed in the community and expressed his willingness to help us.”
King said the last class he took before the practicum was focused on collections and development. He designed his class project based on the needs of Lenoir City Public Library.
“I decided to make it a reality. Susan was very supportive of that and we proceeded with it. I was assisted in the design of the class project by two [distance education] classmates, Savannah Burden and Angela Rice. I know that if they had lived locally, they would have enthusiastically been involved in implementing it, as well,” King stated.
“I’ve been here for six and a half years, and a couple of years ago, we started developing a Spanish-language section in response to the increasing requests for Spanish-language books. Loudon County has a significant Spanish-speaking population, and since we are downtown, we are within walking distance of many businesses and homes. We had a few Spanish books, but if no one knows they are available, they won’t be of any use,” Dorsey added.
King’s first goal was to conduct a thorough community analysis. Building on previous coursework, he used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Statista to understand the demographics of Lenoir City. He noted that direct interactions with community members revealed that the official data likely underestimated the Spanish-speaking population, which might exceed fifty percent in some areas.
The second goal was to immerse himself in Spanish literature, identifying notable authors and publishers to create a comprehensive wishlist of books. King even spoke with librarians in Puerto Rico to better understand the kinds of books that would suit the library and its patrons’ needs.
“The biggest challenge was learning about Spanish literature—not just English books translated into Spanish but also works by Spanish authors and other international authors who are popular in Spanish-speaking countries. I also had to learn about the diverse cultures in different regions, much like the varying cultures across the United States,” King explained.
With a small budget, both King and Dorsey had to be resourceful.
“We had a budget of a thousand dollars. We worked together, and he was able to order, I want to say, close to a hundred books,” Dorsey said.
King also initiated the “1000 Libros” campaign to encourage book donations to build a robust Spanish-language collection.
“Hopefully people can donate books because books are expensive. If people have books their kids no longer use or they would like to pass on, then the library would love to have them as long as they’re well-loved,” he said.
The third goal involved marketing the new initiative to the community. His marketing efforts aimed to increase the visibility of the new collection within the library and the surrounding areas. He updated the library’s Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and website to include Spanish-language content and linked them to the library’s Facebook page.
“It was a great chance to practice my cataloging skills because that wasn’t something I had done outside of an academic setting,” he said.
Additionally, he plans to publicize the “1000 Libros” campaign through local newspapers and radio stations, ensuring that community members are aware of the new resources available to them.
Collaboration was the fourth goal, and to King, was the most important. Without the help and support from Dorsey, he said this project would not have been possible.
“Susan was so positive. I think if anyone ever gets the chance to do an internship, practicum, or volunteer at the Lenoir City Public Library, she sets such a positive tone. She’s a can-do person. One thing I learned is that public librarians are underpaid and overworked, and they need volunteers to help. She was always willing to make things happen. Meeting can-do people like her is a blessing.”
King also worked closely with assistant directors and retired school librarians for cataloging and processing books.
King’s fifth and final goal was to help create programs to engage the community. King volunteered to conduct bilingual story times and mini dance lessons during the summer. These events combined cultural education with fun activities, such as teaching mambo and salsa alongside reading bilingual books like Tito Puente, Mambo King/Tito Puente, Rey del Mambo, and My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia:The life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz. These programs helped publicize the new collection while fostering a sense of community among participants.
“I love English, I love Latin, and I enjoy interacting with people. I believe literacy is important, and if people can learn to read in their language first, and get used to hearing and speaking other languages, it creates empathy between cultures,” he stated.
Dorsey says King’s work has made a lasting impression on the library and the community.
“We’re getting busier and busier and that section is getting very well used,” she said.
Despite facing many challenges during this project, King’s experience reinforced the importance of public libraries in serving diverse populations and shaped his future work as an information professional.
King’s practicum at Lenoir City Public Library was not just an academic requirement, but a fulfilling endeavor that addressed real community needs. He was able to apply his classroom knowledge to create practical experiences that made a tangible difference in the local community. King looks forward to continuing his work as a volunteer and encourages other students to pursue practicums in fields they are passionate about.
For more information about practicum opportunities, visit our website.