SERVING LATINO CHILDREN AND

FAMILIES IN KENTUCKY LIBRARIES

McConnell Conference, February 25-26, 2011

Katie Cunningham, Children’s Librarian

Lexington Public Library – Village Branch

OUTLINE

Demographics

Serving Latinos in KY Libraries

Cultural Considerations

Collection Development

Programming

Professional Resources

5 Things You Can Do NOW

?

LATINOS IN KENTUCKY

A growing minority

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS

Latinos became the largest minority in the U.S. in

2002

Latinos are also the youngest and the fastest-

growing ethnic minority

Estimated to be 30% of population by 2050

22% of U.S. school children are Latino

Latino community is extremely diverse

WHO IS THE LATINO CHILD?

IDENTIFYING LATINO YOUTH

REMEMBER: All Latinos do not look the same or

speak Spanish. Because of their varied historical

backgrounds, some Latinos may appear White,

African, or Asian.

KENTUCKY DEMOGRAPHICS

As of 2009, Latinos in KY are estimated at 2.7% of

population

Lexington has largest Latino community, followed

by Louisville, Bowling Green and Fort Campbell

North CDP

Between 1990-2000, Spencer, Carroll, Henry and

Shelby counties had over 1000% growth in Latino

community

In 2000, Latinos were more than 3% of population

in Shelby, Woodford, Hardin, Fayette, Christian and

Carroll counties

SERVING LATINOS IN KY LIBRARIES

An Overview

THE VILLAGE BRANCH LIBRARY –

A UNIQUELY BILINGUAL BIBLIOTECA

BILINGUAL STAFF

BILINGUAL COLLECTION

CU

LT

UR

AL

PR

OG

RA

MS

FO

RF

AM

ILIE

S

Children build

calaveras puppets

on el Día de los

Muertos / The Day

of the Dead

HO

ME

WO

RK

HE

LP

Free homework

help with library

staff and trained

volunteers

Mon – Thurs

4 – 8 PM

CO

MM

UN

ITY

PA

RT

NE

RS

HIP

S

In 2010 we

partnered with

FCPS to provide

bilingual paperwork

assistance and free

copies to support

Kindergarten

registration on-site

at the Village

Branch library. We

are continuing the

partnership in 2011.

BILINGUAL FAMILY STORYTIME

EA

RLY

LIT

ER

AC

YW

OR

KS

HO

PS

FO

RP

AR

EN

TS

A pilot project to

provide families

with information

and resources they

can use at home to

help their child

develop early

literacy skills and

become ready for

Kindergarten

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

ESL

Spanish Computer

Classes

Bilingual Café

Bilingual Tax

Assistance

THE VILLAGE BRANCH BIBLIOTECA

Opened in 2004

Completely bilingual staff

Integrated bilingual collection

Accessible location

Free homework help

Language and computer classes

Community information and referrals

Cultural and literacy programs for families

Community partnerships

KENTUCKY LIBRARIES

Día de los niños / Día de los libros

Bilingual programs with community partners

English classes and conversation groups

Prime Time Family Reading Program

Outreach programs

REFORMA – National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking –Southeast Chapter

SERVING LATINO IMMIGRANTS

Cultural Considerations

SU

RV

EY

ON

ME

XIC

AN

CU

LT

UR

AL

HA

BIT

S

El Universal:

Noticias de México

y el Mundo.

México D.F., a 16

de diciembre de

2010

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

Language Barrier

Cultural Barrier

Librería

Notarios

Personal relationship /

Trust

Point of Need Service

Family

WHERE TO START…

Who is your Latino community?

What are their information needs?

What organizations are serving Latinos in your

community?

How can you work together?

What barriers are preventing Latinos in your

community from using the library?

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

Authors, Illustrators and Where to Find Them

AWARDS

Pura Belpré

Américas

Tomás Rivera Mexican

American Children’s

Book Award

AUTHORS TO KNOW

1. Pat Mora

2. Julia Alvarez

3. Yuyi Morales

4. Carmen Tafolla

5. Monica Brown

6. René Colato Laínez

7. Margarita Engle

8. Alma Flor Ada

9. Arthur Dorros

10. Lucía González

ILLUSTRATORS TO KNOW

1. Rafael López

2. Maya Cristina

Gonzalez

3. David Diaz

4. Joe Cepeda

5. Yuyi Morales

6. Magaly Morales

7. Amy Córdova

8. Lulu Delacre

9. Rudy Gutierrez

10. Raul Colón

PUBLISHERS AND REVIEWS

Children’s Book Press

Cinco Puntos Press

Piñata Press

Lectorum

Multicultural Review

Críticas

REFORMA

Baharona Center

School Library Journal

Blogs

PROGRAMMING

Successful Programs to Try

¡DÍA!

Libraries nationwide

celebrate bookjoy

every year on April 30

Founded by Pat Mora

in 1996, along with

REFORMA and ALSC

Cultural events, book

giveaways, multilingual

readings and

community

celebrations

CULTURAL PROGRAMS

Día de los niños / Día

de los libros

Noche de cuentos

Hispanic Heritage

Month

Día de los muertos

Cinco de mayo

Las posadas

HOMEWORK HELP

Designated space

Volunteers and/or staff

School supplies

Communication with

local schools

Library resources

STORYTIME

Incorporate Latino authors, illustrators and

characters

Use English books with Spanish words

Read bilingual books

Invite Spanish-speaking guest readers

Use Latino folktales

Share fingerplays, rhymes and songs in Spanish

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES

Where to Turn for Help

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES

REFORMA

REFORMA Southeast

Webjunction

CHILES

Colorín Colorado

PLUS

¡Es divertido hablar

dos idiomas!

5 THINGS YOU CAN DO NOW TO

SERVE LATINO CHILDREN AND

FAMILIES

The Take Away

1. BE FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING

Friendly staff are more

important than bilingual

staff or Spanish

materials!

2. INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS

Use books written /

illustrated by Latinos

that positively reflect

Latino culture in your

programs

Consider starting a

Homework Help

program

3. INCLUSIVE COLLECTIONS

Purchase books from

diverse and

independent publishers

which positively

represent Latino

culture

4. REACH OUT

Visit an outside

organization which

serves your Latino

community and invite

them to use the library

5. CELEBRATE BOOKJOY

Plan an event to

celebrate El Día de los

Niños / El Día de los

Libros (Children’s Day /

Book Day) this year

and every year

WH

AT

WIL

LY

OU

DO

?

“We are guilty of

many crimes, but

our worst sin is

abandoning the

child; neglecting the

foundation of life.

Many of the things

we need can wait;

the child cannot.

We cannot answer

Tomorrow. Her

name is Today.” -

Chilean poet and

educator Gabriela

Mistral