Research At Your Service! Investigaciones para servirles!
Latinos & their Information Needs on Center Stage REFORMA
Presidents Program
Slide 2
Publication about Library Services to Latinos is Growing, from
one paper in 1969 to 49 in 2012.
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Much of that growth has been from anthologies specifically
aimed at services for Latinos.
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Since 1969, there have been 436* publications about Latino
services, by 296 first authors. Twenty-three authors have produced
3 or more works. *Probably more!
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The 436 publications had 6,703 references.
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The word cloud below indicates the most frequently cited
authors in the articles bibliographies.
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This word cloud indicates the words most frequently found in
the titles of materials cited in those bibliographies.
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Patricia L. Guardiola Serving an Exploding Population:
Analyzing the Information Behavior of and Resources Available to
Latino Patrons, Using the Louisville Free Public Library System as
a Model
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Serving an Exploding Population: Analyzing the Information
Behaviors of and Resources Available to Latino Patrons, Using the
Louisville Free Public Library System as a Model Patricia L.
Guardiola MLIS Student, University of Kentucky
[email protected]
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Initial Questions How can librarians assist and empower patrons
if there is a language and/or cultural barrier? What are
information needs and behaviors? What are resources? What is there
to learn from one library system in Kentucky?
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Discovering Info Behaviors and Resources Observations Informal
interviews Literature reviews Participation in Immigrant Services
Committee Outreach Span of nearly two years, from early 2011 to
late 2012
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Demographics in Kentucky From http://www.census.gov/prod/cen
2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf http://www.census.gov/prod/cen
2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf
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Demographics in Louisville, KY Huge increase in Latino
population Between 2000 and 2010, 160% increase (Crouch 2012) Large
immigrant populations Bosnian, Latino, Senegalese, Vietnamese
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Louisville Free Public Library 18 Locations Main Library 2
Regional Libraries 15 Branches Internationals Initiative Image
courtesy of lfpl.org
Information Needs & Behaviors Patron groups or types New
immigrants Can be greatly affected by first impression of library
Second generation Established Overlap
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Information Needs & Behaviors Common requests for native
language materials Citizenship exam prep Computer tutorials English
learning GED exam prep Common patron behaviors Bringing
English-speaking child, friend, or relative Asking bilingual staff
exclusively once aware Biblioteca vs. Librera
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Resources at LFPL Include: Bilingual staff Usually part-time
Conversation Club Catalog Translatable interface Immigrant Services
Committee Internet access Employment applications
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Outside Resources Include: Adelante Hispanic Achievers
(adelanteky.org) Americana Community Center (americanacc.org)
Hispanic Latino Business Council (greaterlouisville.com/hlbc)
Hispanic Latino Coalition (hlcoflouisville.org) Kentucky Refugee
Ministries (kyrm.org) Louisville Metro Office for Globalization
(louisvilleky.gov/Globalization) REFORMA Southeast
(reformasoutheast.org)
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Larger-scale Applications Customer service and staff challenges
Online Face-to-face Privacy Patience! Broader appeal of
multicultural collections Potential for growth classes, groups,
etc.
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Kaitlin J. Peterson Including the Culturally Excluded and
Socially Forgotten: Information Services for Spanish Migrant
Workers in the United States
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Including the Culturally Excluded and Socially Forgotten:
Information Services for Spanish Migrant Workers in the United
States Kaitlin Peterson MLS 13
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Anecdote: How I Became Interested in the Information Needs of
Migrant Workers The same way many of us become interested in a
subject: an encounter in childhood that stuck with me The same way
many of us become interested in a subject: an encounter in
childhood that stuck with me My mom the ESL Teacher vs. the
Indifferent Farm Supervisor My mom the ESL Teacher vs. the
Indifferent Farm Supervisor It was not until this research that I
learned that through the Federal Family Educational Right and
Privacy Act of 1974, my mother and her principal were both legally
capable and required to seek out children of migrant workers
eligible to receive [educational] services It was not until this
research that I learned that through the Federal Family Educational
Right and Privacy Act of 1974, my mother and her principal were
both legally capable and required to seek out children of migrant
workers eligible to receive [educational] services
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Theoretical Framework The theory of information
worlds-developed primarily by Gary Burnett and Paul Jaeger, it
builds upon previous work done by Jrgen Habermas and Elfreda
Chatman. The theory of information worlds-developed primarily by
Gary Burnett and Paul Jaeger, it builds upon previous work done by
Jrgen Habermas and Elfreda Chatman. The theory states that
information behavior is shaped simultaneously by immediate
influences like family and friends, as well as by larger social
influences, including media, technology, etc. The theory argues
that few individuals live in a very small world, except the
extremely isolated The theory states that information behavior is
shaped simultaneously by immediate influences like family and
friends, as well as by larger social influences, including media,
technology, etc. The theory argues that few individuals live in a
very small world, except the extremely isolated Latino migrant
workers are this extremely isolated part of the population Latino
migrant workers are this extremely isolated part of the
population
Slide 25
Population Overview According to the Institute of Food and
Development Policy: More than two million year-round and seasonal
migrant workers, including 100,000 children, work in the US
According to the Institute of Food and Development Policy: More
than two million year-round and seasonal migrant workers, including
100,000 children, work in the US Of those two million, about two
thirds are immigrants, eighty percent of which are from Mexico. Of
those two million, about two thirds are immigrants, eighty percent
of which are from Mexico. Fifty-nine percent are married, fifty two
percent are parents Fifty-nine percent are married, fifty two
percent are parents
Slide 26
Population Overview Contd 35% cannot speak English at all 35%
cannot speak English at all Average level of completed education is
grade eight; 40% have completed grades one through six Average
level of completed education is grade eight; 40% have completed
grades one through six Three out of four U.S. farmworkers earn less
than $10,000 annually, and three out of five live below the federal
poverty line. Three out of four U.S. farmworkers earn less than
$10,000 annually, and three out of five live below the federal
poverty line. Twenty-five percent work fifty hours or more a week.
Twenty-five percent work fifty hours or more a week.
Slide 27
Information Needs Education/literacy Education/literacy
Employment Employment Health Health Family Planning Family Planning
Home/Family Home/Family Housing Housing Legal Information Legal
Information Political Processes Political Processes Recreation
Recreation Transportation Transportation Welfare/Social Services
Welfare/Social Services Geographic Information Geographic
Information Consumer Information Consumer Information
Slide 28
Information Barriers Language/Literacy Skills Language/Literacy
Skills Isolation from society/family Isolation from society/family
Fear/Misunderstanding of Legal System Fear/Misunderstanding of
Legal System Time (lack thereof) Time (lack thereof) Lack of
Transportation Lack of Transportation Cultural Obstacles Cultural
Obstacles Perceptions of Information Institutions Perceptions of
Information Institutions Lack of Access Lack of Access Low Social
Status Low Social Status
Slide 29
Latino Migrant Workers Information Agencies GovernmentSchools
Family Co-workers Time Literacy Language Isolation Culture Access
Social Status Fear Perceptions Transportation Law Latino Migrant
Workers Information World
Slide 30
Library and Information Agencies: Big Picture IFLA in
Multicultural Communities Guidelines for Library Services:
libraries need to pay particular attention to the culturally
diverse groups in their communities, including indigenous peoples,
immigrant communitiesresidents with temporary stay permits, and
migrant workers. IFLA in Multicultural Communities Guidelines for
Library Services: libraries need to pay particular attention to the
culturally diverse groups in their communities, including
indigenous peoples, immigrant communitiesresidents with temporary
stay permits, and migrant workers. UN Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of Migrant Workers, Art. 13 from 1990: migrant
workers and members of their families shall have the right to
freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to see,
receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds UN
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers, Art.
13 from 1990: migrant workers and members of their families shall
have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include
freedom to see, receive, and impart information and ideas of all
kinds
Slide 31
Library and Information Agencies: Small Picture The Farmworker
Unit of the Legal Aid of NC: bilingual staff provide information to
farmworkers through visits to labor camps in the evening, appear on
Spanish language radio and tv programs The Farmworker Unit of the
Legal Aid of NC: bilingual staff provide information to farmworkers
through visits to labor camps in the evening, appear on Spanish
language radio and tv programs University of Washington and
Department of Education partnered with Horizons Incorporated to
create Community Technology Centers for education areas migrant
population University of Washington and Department of Education
partnered with Horizons Incorporated to create Community Technology
Centers for education areas migrant population Fresno County Public
Library (CA) Bookmobile Fresno County Public Library (CA)
Bookmobile Miami Dade Public Library has a Hispanic branch located
in the bottom part of an affordable housing complex where migrant
workers live. Miami Dade Public Library has a Hispanic branch
located in the bottom part of an affordable housing complex where
migrant workers live.
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Recommendations Bring resources to where Latino Migrant workers
are: bookmobiles/mobile collections Bring resources to where Latino
Migrant workers are: bookmobiles/mobile collections Offer bilingual
services/collections Offer bilingual services/collections Partner
with local trusted institutions that are already working with
Latino Migrant population Partner with local trusted institutions
that are already working with Latino Migrant population Develop
relevant policies for Latino migrant workers, but be flexible
Develop relevant policies for Latino migrant workers, but be
flexible Always, always be an advocate Always, always be an
advocate
Slide 33
Jimena Sags Where I come from, libraries are different: A
comparative study of patron experience with libraries in Mexico and
the United States
Slide 34
Where I come from libraries are different: A comparative study
of patrons experience with libraries in Mexico and the United
States Saturday, June 29, 2013American Library Association Annual
Conference Jimena Sags, MLIS Colorado State University
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Acknowledgements REFORMA Library Research Round Table You
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Background U.S. libraries historical role in serving
immigrants
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REFORMA
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Acculturate or Assimilate? Its a two way street, baby!
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A federal library system Secretara de Educacin Pblica Consejo
Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (CONCULTA) La Direccin General
de Bibliotecas La Red Nacional de Bibliotecas Pblicas
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A culture of reading
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LIS Education Colegio de Bibliotecologa (Facultad de Filosofa y
Letras) http://colegiodebibliotecologia.filos.unam.mx
http://colegiodebibliotecologia.filos.unam.mx Courses
http://colegiodebibliotecologia.filos.unam.mx
http://colegiodebibliotecologia.filos.unam.mx
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Questions, questions, questions Users Budgeting Programming
Public vs. Academic Policies Collection development Technology
Professional organizations Space
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Mixed Method Open access information Interviews Patrons both in
Mexico and the United States Library professionals Government
officials
Slide 44
Conclusion Mexico is just a start A process to serve people
from a diversity of backgrounds
