Services for New Americans & English Learners

Person holding an American flag.

Did you know? The Main Library also has books and magazines for adults in fourteen languages. Learn more about our World Language Collections.

Welcome! We hope the Worcester Public Library can be a safe, helpful place for you and your family no matter how long you have been in the United States or how much English you speak.

We offer a variety of services and programs to help you improve your English or prepare for U.S. citizenship. See highlights below or check our online calendar for special events and the latest updates!

Learn English

A group of students learning English.

The English as a Second Language & Literacy (ESLL) collection is on the first floor of the Main Library. It includes textbooks, books for self-study, leveled readers, test prep material, and more.

Learn English at WPL

Join us for our English Conversation Circle every Tuesday from 5:30 - 7 p.m. in the First Floor Ellipse at the Main Library. You'll practice speaking English in a relaxed, comfortable environment, and meet new friends as we learn by talking together! No registration needed.

We also host Holly from RICEMA for an Everyday English Class Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the First Floor Meeting Room at the Main Library. This student-centered class focuses on English used in everyday conversations. No registration needed.

Find an English Class

Search our listing of English courses in Worcester to find a class that's right for you, or visit the ESOL Navigator or New Americans Librarian at the Main Library in the Community Resources Office on the first floor: Tuesdays, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. or Fridays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Online Resources

Mango Languages offers English courses for speakers of 18 different languages, including: الإنجليزية للمتحدثين بالعربية, Anglais pour Francophones, Inglês para Brasileiros, Inglés Para Hablantes De Español & Tiếng Anh Cho Người Việt Nam.

Learning Express Library can help you prepare for exams including the HiSET/GED, TOEFL, and the citizenship exam. Ofrece herramientas de aprendizaje, carrera y ciudadanía en español.

Tumble Book Library includes hundreds of animated, narrated picture books to practice listening and reading.

A person on a laptop can access free resources with their library card.

Citizenship & Immigration

U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services paperwork with American flags.

Ready to become a United States citizen? Check out the Citizenship collection on the first floor of the Main Library, near the ESLL and World Language collections. We have books and other resources to help you study for the naturalization exam. Holly from RICEMA also teaches a citizenship preparation class every Tuesday from 9 - 11 a.m. in the First Floor Meeting Room at the Main Library.

In partnership with local legal aid organizations and private attorneys, WPL hosts a Free Immigration Legal Help Clinic the second Wednesday of the month from 3 - 7 p.m. at the Main Library. Appointments are required and spaces fill up fast. Call the library's main line at 508-799-1655, option 3 to register. Check the online calendar for upcoming dates.

Library staff are not accredited to answer immigration-related legal questions or prepare naturalization applications or other immigration forms. The New Americans Librarian may be able to provide additional screening or referrals to resources. Please see our listing of Immigration and Legal Help Resources for detailed assistance and the USCIS website for information.