Walsh Truly Serving 1

Running Head: WALSH TRULY SERVING

Truly Serving our Communities

Maura Walsh
 Abstract

This paper makes a case for what our library service to the Latino community should

entail and why. First, there should be an understanding of and a respect for the culture.

Second, many immigrants need to be afforded an opportunity to improve their language

and technology skills. Third, the library should be a place that embraces and allows

them to find pleasure in materials in their native language. Some key ideas and

suggestions for successfully implementing these services are presented.

 Walsh Truly Serving 1

Truly Serving our Communities

The United States has long been an ethnic melting pot and, though we may pride

ourselves on having formed a new culture and country, we can be quite closeminded

about some of the ethnic groups presently trying to join our society. In this paper we are

primarily concerned with the Spanish-speaking population which we know is rapidly

increasing in many areas across the country and every indication is that this segment of

our population will continue to grow. Three considerations seem paramount: conserving

culture, enabling proficiency and providing pleasure. The library’s role is fundamental

and can do so much to help these newest segments of our society become fulfilled and

productive parts of the whole.

Culture

In order to serve other cultures we must first try to understand them. Part of this

encompasses respecting ethnic differences and not simply expecting those from foreign

cultures to automatically understand how ours works. Outreach will be more effective if

we know something about the complexities of Latino culture, both traditional and

popular: art, television, music, literature, folklore, and religion. This reflects Gary

Howard’s theories as well as his citation of Malcolm X: “We can’t teach what we don’t

know” in his book by the same title (2006).

Learning about Latino culture will also help us highlight differences in order to

see what they may need more help understanding in our culture (like the role of women)

or what they will value (for example, community events). Libraries are perhaps uniquely

equipped to bridge this cultural diversity gap because they already have as their mission

service to the community. The more we understand about Latino cultures, the more we
will understand about our own, and the better prepared we will be to provide valuable

services to the Latino community as well as our own.

Some trepidation has been expressed that communities, perhaps reflected in

library boards or local governments, may be reluctant to provide services to Latinos

because they are not ‘legal’ or ‘real’ Americans. I think the wise librarian will be able to

find justification in the library’s own mission statements and plenty of tools, like those in

the ALA toolbox, to help make the case to local authorities. The most crucial line of

reasoning is that public libraries serve their populations. We should only attempt to

judge what they might like to read, what services they are likely to take advantage of;

not what they should read or do. Not supplying books in another language when there

are users who wish to read in that language is as irrational as not providing books about

Buddhism because we decide our country would be better-off if everyone were

Christian. Or not supplying books on vegetarianism because it is 'healthier' to follow a

‘balanced’ diet.

Elaine Yontz says: “If service to Hispanic patrons is not yet a major concern of

your library, it will be soon.”(Imroth & McCook, 2000, p.134). We know that the Spanish

speaking population is rapidly increasing in many areas across the country and every

indication is that this segment of our population will continue to grow. Given this, it

seems logical to conclude, as she does, that: “To lobby for a certain amount of

consistency in the cataloging produced for national use is reasonable. Likewise, we

should encourage utilities and vendors to catalog with more sensitivity to special

populations.” (Imroth & McCook, 2000, p.133). It is part of our job to find meaningful

ways to communicate effectively and sincerely with people from other cultural groups
 Walsh Truly Serving 1

and to give them respect both directly and indirectly, so the terms used should be

consistent in this respect. Having the professional tools that we need to accomplish this

is of the utmost importance. It enables us to recognize, supply and share suitable

materials. This area of cataloging needs more development.

Proficiency

Methods of accessing information have changed and become a much more

important part of modern life. Therefore proficiency in being able to access information

is an integral part of being able to be successful in our society. This proficiency is akin to

being literate, but merely being able to read and write is no longer enough. Today being

literate should also include being able to use a computer. Without computer skills

neither the library OPAC nor databases can be accessed. Many job advertisements

require submitting an online application or electronically submitting a résumé.

Today Latinos comprise 14% of the U.S. adult population and about half of this

growing group (56%) goes online. By comparison, 71% of non-Hispanic whites and 60%

of non-Hispanic blacks use the internet (Pew, 2007). Clearly, there is a duty to increase

those numbers and the library is probably the best platform to provide that opportunity.

In addition there is a continuing need for literacy and English as a second

language programs. The ALA reports that 21 million people speak little or no English

(ALA 2007), which is actually 50 % more than only a decade ago. This parallels the

growth in importance of technology and it makes sense to try and provide programs that

either encompass both skills or feed participants from one program into another. The

ALA also reports that 78% of libraries, and especially libraries in smaller communities,

do provide support for Spanish speaking patrons (ALA 2007).

 Pleasure

Beyond the library’s traditional duty to the community of helping new immigrants

learn how to cope with this society and adjust to a new culture, beyond teaching specific

language and technological skills, there is also an obligation to provide materials for the

reading and viewing pleasure of this segment of the population. Just because someone

learns English and learns to function in an English speaking society, they do not loose

their ability to function in their native language. Reading in English will probably never

replace reading in Spanish. Nor will watching American films be a satisfactory substitute

for watching films made by their fellow countrymen in their native language. Therefore,

libraries should strive to provide those materials for their patrons, and should probably

strive to recruit patrons for their libraries that come as close as possible to reproducing

the percentages of their local community. One thing may very well lead to the other.

How to do it all

In Serving Latinos Communities Alire suggest performing PR by partnering with

Latino organizations (2007). This certainly gives a great entré to the community, and

provides a ready made organizational structure to take advantage of if there are such

groups in the community. In the marketing section they list the following steps: plan well,

use promotional fliers and the Internet, use bilingual PR, emphasize that services are all

free, write effective press releases, utilize public service announcements, give effective

presentations, and develop a distribution list with the necessary information included. Of

these, I would like to highlight the following:

Use bilingual PR. This is a good idea even if the service or program is only being

offered in English. Parents might like to bring their children to a story hour but either not
 Walsh Truly Serving 1

understand enough about how it works from an English only announcement, or feel that

they would not be welcome if they do not speak English. Frequently children know more

English than their parents.

Emphasize that all programs are free. 'It's free.' and 'You're welcome.' are the two

most important messages to get across. Many Latinos may come from areas that did

not have libraries or the libraries were not able to offer many services. We want them to

know what we offer and we want them to come. This is a vital part of outreach. In fact, I

think it would be great to develop a bilingual slogan to print as a footer on every library

publication saying that all are welcome and all services and programs are free.

Develop a distribution list. This is a step that will pay off over and over again.

When meeting people through their community organizations it is important to keep

track of who they are, what group they represent, what their interests are, contact

information and dates that are important to their community or group. (Holidays and

celebrations vary from country to country.) If the library keeps good records of these

things they will be able to provide greater services and attract more patrons. In short,

the library will be more successful.

Conclusion

When a library more fully serves its community it is a better library. Successful

support means providing programs that are tailored to the demographics of its

community and should include practical as well as pleasurable programs. Libraries are

uniquely positioned to help the immigrant populations blend into society successfully

while at the same time valuing the cultural riches they bring to contribute to that same

society. Libraries can supply support that is practical, emotional and intellectual.
 References

ALA, (2007). Serving non-English speakers. Retrieved November 25, 2008, from

Analysis of library demographics, services and programs Web

site:http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/olos/nonenglishspeakers/docs/LI_Rep

ort_Summary.pdf

ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach. (2008). How to serve the world @ your library:

[Brochure]. Chicago, IL:

Alire, C. & Ayala, J. (2007). Serving Latino communities. 2nd ed. NY: Neal-Schuman

Publishers, Inc.

Cuban, S, (2007). Serving new immigrant communities in the library. Wesrport, CT:

Libraries Unlimited.

Fox, S. & Livingston, G. (2007 March 14). Reports: Demographics. Retrieved November

24, 2008, from Pew internet and American life project: Web site:

http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/204/report_display.asp

Howard, G.R. (2006). We can’t teach what we don’t know: White teachers and

multiracial schools. New York: Teachers College Press/Columbia

University.

Immroth, B. & McCook, K. de la P. (2000). Library services to youth of Hispanic

heritage. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. Subject access to fiction: A case study

based on the works of Pat Mora, pp. 131-135.

Quesada, T. (2007 November). Spanish spoken here. American Libraries, 30(10), 40-

44.