Walsh Paper Serving Latino

Walsh Truly Serving Running Head: WALSH TRULY SERVING

Truly Serving our Communities Maura Walsh

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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,

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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), 4044.