by Max
Macias
Last fall I
had the honor of being asked to review the much anticipated Pathways to
Progress: Issues and Advances in Latino Librarianship; edited by John L. Ayala
and Salvador Güereña. This book is a
collection of essays by Latino Librarian/Advocates on Latino
Librarianship. It is part of a series
called Latinos and Libraries Series, published by Libraries Unlimited. I do not have time to write about every essay
in the book--there are 12 chapters and 17 pieces written by some of the leaders
of the Latino Library Movement.
Chapter one
is by Dr. Sergio Chaparro and is entitled: Common Denominators in the
Development of Latino Library Leadership.
This chapter was far too short and underdeveloped. It was surfacy and generally vague without
references to the diversity within the “Latino” label. It was supposed to outline and discuss some
ideas and methods to create and empower a new group of managers and library
directors who can advocate for Latinos and Hispanics in librarianship and in
LIS programs. Dr. Chapparo is correct in
his observations that more Latinos should be in library management/administration. He is also correct that there must be more
research on Latinos in libraries and Latinos in general.
Collection
Development: an Overview for the Spanish Speaking by Sara Martinez is the 2nd
chapter. This chapter is wonderful and
akin to a mini-handbook on Spanish Language Collection Processes. She even has tips on distribution contacts
and how to outreach to the Spanish Speaking Community in general. This is a solid chapter and is invaluable to
anyone who is collecting or is about to begin to collect, or is even thinking
about collecting Spanish Language Materials for their library.
Public
Library Services and Latino Children: Getting it right in the 21st Century by
Oralia Garza de Cortés is the 3rd chapter in this wonderful book. She begins the chapter with a history of Latino
Librarianship in children’s services.
Oralia goes then analyzes and criticizes the Every Child Ready to Read @
Your Library program. She then talks
about first languages in the home and how they relate to literacy. Oralia next describes REFORMA’s place in the
struggle to serve Latino Children in Spanish by describing various programs
that REFORMA has developed by itself and in partnership with aspect of
ALA.
Oralia goes
on to describe the explosive growth of the Latino population in the US and then
gives us the wonderful gift of “Ten Principles for Providing Comprehensive
Library Services to Latino Children and Families.” Every principle she gives is powerful and
would/will truly impact services in this vital area. This is one of the stronger chapters in the
anthology.
Chapter
4: Academic Libraries: Pathways to
Transforming Teaching, Learning and Relationships in Chicano and Latino Studies
by Luévano, etal. covers the “...best methods used to integrate information
fluency skills into ethnic studies department curricula?” One conclusion is that “Academic Librarians
must become more involved in faculty and curriculum development.” Librarians must spend more time creating
learning materials for class and the library. This chapter is okay, but is more
on the theoretical/academic side.
Chapter
5: Special Libraries and
Collections: Invisible as Night,
Implacable as Wind” California and Multicultural Archives (CEMA): The First 20
Years by Erica Bennett is an excellent history of this organization. Ms. Bennett surveys the history, demographic
developments in the US, the importance of Latino/Hispanic archives in general
and specifically CEMA. She goes on to
describe the place of CEMA in the 21st century and ends with an excellent
chronology of CEMA.
Chapter
6: Special Collections: The Cuban
Heritage Collection at the University of Miami Libraries by Mariá R. Estorino
is a nice description of the collection, it’s importance and future as a major
resource for Latino/Hispanic research.
Chapter 7 is a beautiful piece by the late and great tatiana de la
tierra entitled Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Lesbian, Queer: Being there: Queer
Latin@ Representation in the Library discusses the problems, and possible
solutions of the lack of representation in libraries of Latino Queer
Librarians, and the lack of representation in library collections as a result
of the lack of Latino Queer Librarians and allies.
Chapter 8
is Recruiting and Mentoring: Proactive Mentoring: Attracting Hispanic American
Students into Information Studies by Alma C. Ortega and Marisol Ramos tries to
answer the question of why efforts to recruit Hispanic students into Library
Science has so far failed and what might be done about this with solid
mentoring and recruitment. This essay was
almost the first time I had heard anyone else, besides myself, talk about the
importance of recruiting non-Spanish Speaking Hispanic students into LIS. Proactive recruiting and mentoring are major
focuses of this chapter. It ends with
some illustrative case studies.
Chapter 9
is Leadership in Libraries: Latino Leadership in Libraries by Luis Herrera
discusses the history, present and future of Latino leadership in libraries in
the US. While this chapter offers some
insight into the history of this topic, it offers little in practical and
effective leadership implementation for Latinos in libraries. I found this article trite, and full of “7
Habits of Highly Effective Leaders” types of advice. While it offers some insight into how current
Latino Library leaders see leadership--it doesn’t address the lack of change
and current Latino librarian lack of impact in making libraries more welcoming
to Latinos in the US.
Chapter 10
is Digital Resource: Developing Chicano/a Latino/a Digital Resources by Alexander
Hauschild addresses the dilemma of making digital resources that relate to
Chicano/a or Latino/a history available widely.
This chapter mainly focuses on how to get the resources that exist
linked up to one another and to outside sources for more availability.
Chapter 11
is a collection of conference presentation the topics range from “A Personal
Commitment to the Committee to Recruit Mexican American Librarians” by John L.
Ayala to LGBT Archives by Yolanda Retter Vargas. Chapter 12 discusses the role of library
associations in relation to Latino librarianship--it ends with an historical
overview of REFORMA.
In
general, I would say that this book is well worth the price: 52.25.
This book has solid information and background for understanding the
issues Latino Librarianship in the US face, the history of Latinos in LIS and
potential paths to the future for Latinos and those who would serve this
population in US libraries. Kudos to
John Ayala and Salvador Güereña for creating this practical and informative
collection of essays! My main criticism
is the lack of radical ideas, or any real strength when it comes to confronting
the racism and prejudice we (Latinos/Hispanics/Indigenous) face in US
libraries. We need an analysis of the
impact of the Colonial Educational System on our knowledge--particularly when
it comes to identity, culture and our heritage.
While all these essays gave practical steps to help Latinos in the
current milieu, we need to have alternative futures that change or operate
outside the current system--which is fundamentally, White supremacist,
Patriarchal, Heterosexual, Classist and Misogynistic. I look forward to seeing this change in
analysis as a result of the practical advice given by the authors in this fine
work.
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Max Macias
Silverton, Oregon
January, 2014
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