More on Serving Latino Communites... by Alire and Ayala

I'm really enjoying reading Serving Latino Communities... by Alire and Ayala. I really appreciate how practical and easy the suggestions would be to put into practice. In addition, the authors provide a decent balance of suggestions. Many of the programming ideas would cost almost nothing to implement since they are simple adaptations of current programs. However, they also give a lot of advice on creating new and unique programs that would appeal specifically to a Latino audience.

Furthermore, the list of possible partnerships (starting on page 111) are many of the same ideas that we discussed in Dr. Agada's Special Populations class (through Emporia State University). These partnerships are so important, not just for financial reasons, but also to improve attendance. When you are trying to attract new patrons, working with other organizations and gaining their support will be a huge asset.

The quote that (so far) has struck me as really valid is: "Be sincere about the library's commitment to reach out to the Latino community; if you are not sincere, that community will see right through you" (p. 108). This is true of service to any patrons. Librarians must be dedicated to reaching out to their community, since building relationships is critical to the viability of the profession.