Strategies to Serve Multiethnic Populations Loida Garcia-Febo Assistant Coordinator, Special Services Queens Library May 11, 2007

Get to know your community Research and Analysis of Census statistics Contact community organizations Contact churches Obtain information from school districts Consult Yellow Pages

Westchester As of 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 71.35% White,White 14.20% African American,African American 0.25% Native American,Native American 4.48% Asian,Asian 0.04% Pacific Islander,Pacific Islander 6.63% from other races,other races and 3.05% from two or more races.

Westchester HispanicHispanic or Latino of any race were 15.61% of the population.Latino 64.1% were Whites of non-Hispanic origin.Whites The main European ethnic groups are Italian 29-33%, Irish 25%, German 5%, Polish 3%.

Census Bureau

Change of Hispanic/Latino Population in New York City and Long Island Source: 1990 and 2000 Census)

Foreign-born Population 1,028, % of the total population Year of entry 1990 to 2000: 41.7% Not a citizen: 54.6%

Cultural differences between groups* Are ties to the country of origin strong and important to the community? What expectations customers have of the library? What are important holidays, cultural events and traditions? How they are celebrated or observed *¡Bienvenidos! Welcome! A Handy Resource Guide for Marketing Your Library to Latinos. Susannah Mississippi Byrd. 2005

Cultural differences between groups* What are the community’s book reading interests? What are the local concerns, and what resources can the library provide to help address these concerns? What topics would be of interest in this community? *¡Bienvenidos! Welcome! A Handy Resource Guide for Marketing Your Library to Latinos. Susannah Mississippi Byrd. 2005

Cultural differences between groups* What media venues are most effective in reaching this target population? Where do they gather to share information in the community? Who are the community leaders and connectors who can help build a bridge between the library and the community? *¡Bienvenidos! Welcome! A Handy Resource Guide for Marketing Your Library to Latinos. Susannah Mississippi Byrd. 2005

Collection Development Why? Goals Selection Process How-to?

Why Start a Collection in an International Language? Increase patronage by Spanish speakers Increased commitment to these speakers Recent immigrants do not speak English or are not fluent in English. Such population prefer reading in Spanish.

Materials to include Print materials: books, magazines, newspapers Audio-visual: videos, DVDs, CDs Electronic resources: databases, E-books, websites

Selection Process Individual Committee Centralized

How-to Using print catalogues Selecting and ordering online Using recommended lists Attending book fairs Visiting distributors – to make off-shelf purchases

Guadalajara Book Fair

Recommendations Solicit input from patrons regarding their reading interests and information needs. Network with colleagues and professionals in local community agencies to select materials based on current and validated input.

Recommendations Use electronic sources to supplement collection development Develop relationships with vendors Provide materials that the community and patrons want, not just what staff think they want.

Adult Collection Adult fiction should include the original literature of the countries as well as translations of American bestsellers Adult non-fiction mirrors the subjects found in the English collections, with emphasis on information that will help quick adaptation to the U.S.

Children The children collections should include original work from (Example) Latin America and many bilingual [Example: English/Spanish] titles selected keeping in mind library policy regarding children books.

Programming for Multiethnic Groups Suggestions: Crafts Storytelling Poetry Author Talks Film Festivals Slide Lecture Presentations Dance Music Songs Community Organizations

Indian Music

Haitian Storytelling

Flamenco

Colombian Dance

Turkish Storytelling

Mexican Dance

Korean Dance

Puerto Rican Dance

Chinese Opera Singer

Recommendations Demographics Holidays Grants City Programs/Festivals Upon Requests

Recommendations Date Time Topics

How to gather information? Churches Community Organizations Yellow Pages World-Wide-Web

Asociación Tepeyac de New York

Mailing Lists Schools Multicultural Organizations Media

Loida Garcia-Febo