Crash Course in Serving Spanish-Speakers

(Paperback)

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Description

This introduction will help plan for attracting this rapidly growing Spanish-speaking population into the library and library services, a major challenge to librarians in small public libraries who have no Spanish-speaking staff. Providing services to Spanish speakers is both an honor and a challenge. Before public institutions venture into reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community, they need to become familiar with their cultural competency so that their decisions and initiatives are not at risk.

Reviews

Avila's book does a good job of doing what it sets out to do, providing a quick and convenient starting place for librarians unfamiliar with services for Spanish speakers. Recommended as a resource for the many librarians dealing with new, rapid growth in their Spanish-speaking population. * Public Libraries *
This title addresses the what, who, when, where, why, and how of services that should be provided. Additional useful information includes magazines, Internet links, and translated Library of Congress subject headings. Public librarians serving these first-generation Spanish speaking populations would find this title extremely useful. * Catholic Library World *
Avila offers advice on interacting with Spanish-speaking library users and staff, marketing the library, organizing programs, and obtaining materials in both Spanish and English that would be of interest to Latinos. One especially useful chapter contains findings from the Reaching the U.S. Hispanic Market survey conducted by the Direct Marketing Association in 2006. Avila illustrates many of his points with examples of policies and programs from his own library system. * MultiCultural Review *
This book is recommended more for public libraries that are beginning their services to Spanish speakers. . . * Collection Management *
This text could easily be used by the new librarian serving Spanish-speaking patrons as well as the seasoned professional who is new to this role. The work is a great review as well as introduction to the life of a librarian, illustrating both the positive and the challenging situations. * ARBA *
This book is a useful guide for developing an effective, coordinated plan. It will help any library and its staff to become more able to serve the Latino public. * Journal of Web Librarianship *

Author Bio

Salvador Avila is a Branch Librarian in the Las Vegas Public Library.