English as a Second Language classes are set to quadruple in West Marin thanks to a joint effort between Shoreline Unified School District and the Marin County Free Library, which together roped in $26,000 from state adult education funds to hire five new teachers and increase the number of classes. Beginning this week in Point Reyes Station, six free morning and night classes are now offered at the Dance Palace Community Center from Monday through Thursday, with concurrent free child care. The same services will be offered in Tomales in April. Bonny White, West Marin branch manager for the library system, said E.S.L. classes used to only be offered once a week in Tomales and Point Reyes Station. It was a conversation Ms. White had with Bob Raines, Shoreline’s superintendent, in which the two agreed that a language couldn’t be properly learned with just one class a week, that prompted the effort. The pair, with help from the Marin County Adult Education Consortium—a countywide association of school districts, the College of Marin and adult education programs—secured the funds for the current school year. Mr. Raines said they will soon return with another proposal to acquire funds for next year. Five E.S.L. teachers, three for Point Reyes Station and two for Tomales, have been hired. Annemarie Russo, literacy coordinator for the library, said they tried to keep the hiring as local as possible. She added that the classes, which draw between three and 10 students, are not contingent on size. “It’s important to have a consistency in classes offered, even if it’s just a few [students] at the start,” she said. Katie Haberman, of Inverness, is teaching a Monday evening course in Point Reyes Station that began this week. She said language allows people to advocate for themselves, and often allows parents to better engage with their children’s education, among other things. And although the classes tend to have more Spanish speakers, Ms. Haberman reiterated the program’s universal value. “I’m sure there are people who speak a language other than Spanish and I’m excited to see who comes into the fold,” she said. To learn more, visit marinlibrary.org or call (415) 663.8375.