Libraries and Emerging Communities

As a growing demographic in the United States, Latinos and Hispanics account for 16% of the population according to the 2010 United States Census. With this change of ethnic diversity to our country comes a need to connect these new users with valuable library services. Ellyn Ruhlmann in her article “Connecting Latinos with Libraries” addresses the effort and strategies being made by library systems across the country to engage these users.

What keeps this group from utilizing the library? The response may seem to be the obvious language barrier often faced by some Latinos. However, it often comes down to their inexperience with libraries that poses an obstacle. Many Hispanics come from countries where libraries are not the norm. As Rulhmann describes in her article a library can mean a room with dusty outdated books only accessible for a limited time during the week. Therefore, it’s about changing the perception and notion in order to reach this demographic. This doesn’t mean an overhaul in how we provide our services; simple changes can make a difference, promoting not only our physical collection but also our services and programs.

The Metropolitan Library System has fortunately been proactive about engaging this community through responsive programming. At Capitol Hill, the tutoring program established for kids in grades K-8th provided twice weekly reading and homework assistance, with an average of 35 participants per session: 2,282 children received help during the 2013-14 school year! We have continued this program throughout the summer.

Although this program helps children of all demographics improve their literacy skills, the majority of those that we assist are Hispanics and Latinos who often face the same difficulties that affect their parents. However, access to our large Spanish language collection gives us the ability to assist and provide these parents with free valuable resources that help them in their everyday lives. 

Another common misconception about libraries with this demographic are that fees are charged for use of materials and services. This is most likely a result of the interchange of the word for library in Spanish biblioteca with libreria, the Spanish word for bookstore, a mistake that happens all too often here at Capitol Hill.

Lastly, Latinos are just as varied as any other demographic and should be given the opportunity to experience what we provide to various other communities. As we continue to recognize our part in the free flow of information and ideas we are able to further spread this message to emerging communities that are unfamiliar and unaware of our work in order to avoid becoming a dusty, outdated entity.