Thread: Cities Load Libraries w/Spanish-Language Material

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3406714
Article Last Updated: 01/16/2006 12:32:29 AM

Small cities load library shelves with Spanish-language material
By Mark Eddington
The Salt Lake Tribune

Brenda Huezo, 21, visits the Hispanic book section in the Hyrum Library in Cache County. (Arrin Newton Brunson/The Salt Lake Tribune)

AMERICAN FORK - It is too early to get a read on whether Latinos in American Fork will check out the new Spanish-language books at this Utah County city's library.

But officials hope they will when the Spanish materials debut Tuesday in the main-floor children's section and second-floor adult sector.
"We'll have close to 500 books and some magazines, videos and DVDs," American Fork Library Director Sheena Parker said.
And American Fork - with a Latino population of more than 5 percent and growing - is not alone.

Four other cities - Pleasant Grove, Springville, Price and Tremonton - also have received $8,000 apiece to stock shelves with Spanish-language materials. And the Utah County bookmobile has received $4,000.

The Utah Library Division is doling out some of its yearly Federal Library Services & Technology Act money to help city and county libraries with the "largest and fastest-growing" Latino populations.

"Many of the immigrants coming to Utah speak Spanish and are not fluent in English," State Librarian Donna Morris said. "We have identified libraries in Utah that do not have Spanish materials . . . and have made it a priority to better serve this underserved population."

Salt Lake City's libraries carry materials in 40 languages, including more than 23,000 books in Spanish.
"Typically, these grants go to smaller libraries to help them do the things that larger libraries are already doing," said Chip Ward, Salt Lake City Library assistant director. "We like to think of our library as being a model" in offering foreign-language materials.

Hyrum's Spanish materials certainly have paid dividends since the library in Cache County received $8,000 in November 2004.
"Hyrum has a high population of Hispanics who work at a meatpacking plant," Library Director Ginny Tremayne said. "So we had a great need for it."

What began as a trickle - mostly Latino children - checking out books, tapes and DVDs has grown steadily until now, "on average, we have a new Hispanic family or two coming in every week," Tremayne added.

Celestia Sala, assistant director at the Cache County Hispanic Center in Logan, says books and tapes in Spanish are important to Latinos, who she says account for about 13 percent of the county's populace.

"Hispanics are definitely the fastest-growing minority group," Sala said. "They need access to Spanish-language books to maintain their identity, rich cultural heritage and to help them learn English. This helps them perform better in their communities, homes and schools. It's important they have the same access to information at the library as we do."

Thanks to grant money, the Ephraim, Fillmore, Cedar City, Summit County and Washington County libraries also stocked up on Spanish-language materials in 2004. At an open house at the Washington County Library, Morris said, Spanish speakers were so excited they did an impromptu gig, staying in step with the festive music provided by library staff.

State library officials provide a core list that libraries consult when buying the books and tapes. They also train library staff about how best to use the money. The funds act as seed money that each library is expected to augment with municipal cash. The 2004 recipients garnered another grand apiece in grants late last year.

The Spanish materials include everything from children's books and adult literature to primers on home repair and learning English.
"The English-learning tapes have been our biggest draw because so many [Latinos] want to learn English," Tremayne said. "So we've had to buy a second set because the first set are checked out all the time."

meddington@sltrib.com

There go our tax dollars once again- catering to illegals-
funny how the inner city kids were adbandoned in american but nothing is too good for illegals-
In my next life I'am coming back as an ILegal alien.
Ps A good tie in movie for illegal immigration is "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"

I mean hows this for a concept: Learn English
Go back to your own country

The ONLY books I wouldn't be raising hell over would be the ones that TAUGHT THEM ENGLISH. Anything else would cause an UPROAR from me.

I agree with you, Rebecca. IF there is reincarnation, I'm coming back as an illegal immigrant too. A MEXICAN ONE at that. We wouldn't want to come back as anything OTHER THAN A SPANISH speaking one because WE would be LOST!