Latinos in Libraries, Museums, and Archives: Cultural Competence in Action! An Asset-Based Approach - Softcover

In this welcome resource, the authors emphasize the strength and potential that cultural competence brings to the library and information science profession. The authors are attentive to the specific issues Latinos face, but similar points can be applied to other ethnic communities in understanding their relationship to libraries, museums, and archives. The asset-based model underscores a collaborative approach, identifying Latino communities and patrons as having assets instead of regarding them strictly as being in need or facing deficits-switching the focus altogether to identifying strengths, talents, and accomplishments. Using asset mapping as a salient strategy, LIS professionals can recognize cultural difference and become more aware of social inequities. This thorough, clearly written, well-researched guide will encourage not only professionals but also students in Chicano/Latino studies and education programs to think about the role of culture in institutions of knowledge, particularly within the growing US Latino population. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, professionals/practitioners. * CHOICE * Latinos in Libraries, Museums, and Archives.... is a worthwhile contribution to the professional literature. It is heavily footnoted and includes many citations to relevant content. The authors make a convincing case for cultural competence in libraries, archives, and museums. Our strong history of service to all draws us in this direction anyway, although individuals should examine their own biases to better understand others. All of us will benefit from this thoughtful analysis of how we can serve Latinos better. * Information Today * Educational and cultural institutions across the nation are striving for relevance and responsiveness to communities during a time of unprecedented technological, social and cultural transformation. The Latino community, now the largest demographic minority in the country cannot be overlooked as part of this sea change. Latinos in Libraries, Museums, and Archives: Cultural Competency in Action, An Asset-Based Approach offers a compelling and progressive call to action to improve services and decrease disparities in meeting the needs of Latinos. The book rightly asserts that we have an obligation to develop cultural competencies and demonstrate leadership in policies and practices that impact recruitment, services and programs for Latinos. Through an impressive and in-depth assessment of Latinos in libraries, museums, archives and health information services, the authors deliver well documented profiles on the changing Latino landscape, best practices and strategies that will serve to elevate and recognize the richness and diversity of the Latino culture. -- Luis Herrera, City Librarian, San Francisco Public Library This book is a must-read for library and information science (LIS) professionals because it presents a practical approach to an issue of great significance today: underrepresentation of and discrimination against Latinos in the United States and the power of libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs) to improve their situation. The two major contributions of this book, are, first, the layout of a solid, conceptual framework-an asset-based approach to cultural competence - and second, the listing of numerous resources to understand, acquire, and practice cultural competence at U.S. LAM institutions. * The American Archivist * Educational and cultural institutions across the nation are striving for relevance and responsiveness to communities during a time of unprecedented technological, social and cultural transformation. The Latino community, now the largest demographic minority in the country cannot be overlooked as part of this sea change. Latinos in Libraries, Museums, and Archives: Cultural Competency in Action, An Asset-Based Approach offers a compelling and progressive call to action to improve services and decrease disparities in meeting the needs of Latinos. The book rightly asserts that we have an obligation to develop cultural competencies and demonstrate leadership in policies and practices that impact recruitment, services and programs for Latinos. Through an impressive and in-depth assessment of Latinos in libraries, museums, archives and health information services, the authors deliver well documented profiles on the changing Latino landscape, best practices and strategies that will serve to elevate and recognize the richness and diversity of the Latino culture. -- Luis Herrera, City Librarian, San Francisco Public Library If you would like to better serve Latinos at your library, museum or archives, this book has the key to provide culturally competent services to Latinos by using an asset-based approach that would provide you with core notions and models of cultural competences crucial to meet the needs of this population. The authors expertly address these by focusing on positive aspects of our communities, describing the largest groups of Latinos in the USA, explaining the role of language in providing services, and featuring basic needs such as health and information issues. Additionally, their asset-based model would provide tools needed to develop good planning and strategies pivotal to successfully meet needs and create policies to further library services to Latinos and Spanish speakers. -- Loida Garcia-Febo, REFORMA President 2009-2010, International Librarian. President, Information New Wave The authors of this compelling and timely work re-imagine and outline ways to measure cultural competence in the LIS community through an asset-based approach rather than a fixation on identifying what's wrong or broken and how it can be ameliorated with existing practices. They first calibrate our historical compass to provide context about the rich complexity of the Latino community in the United States to then bring us to a place where we can begin to consider ways to engage with and build connections to this growing demographic in our country. As a professional community dedicated to access to information for all, they authors invite their readers to consider the positive aspects and potential benefits of embracing Latino communities and their collective cultural assets in ways that affect how we provide services and determine policies that will systemically and structurally shift our own professional culture to better serve Latinos in libraries, archives, and museums. -- Athena Jackson, Associate Director, Special Collections Library, University of Michigan Library In the second decade of the new millennium, health equity continues to be an elusive goal for our country and many others. Novel tools and approaches are needed in this information era to tackle the intractable problems of our generation. This book is such a tool providing innovative insights and suggesting new approaches that will begin to bridge the gap between our reality today and what we aspire to as Latinos and as a nation. -- Francisco Garcia, Director & Chief Medical Officer, Pima County Health Department, Arizona The authors of this compelling and timely work re-imagine and outline ways to measure cultural competence in the LIS community through an asset-based approach rather than a fixation on identifying what's wrong or broken and how it can be ameliorated with existing practices. They first calibrate our historical compass to provide context about the rich complexity of the Latino community in the United States to then bring us to a place where we can begin to consider ways to engage with and build connections to this growing demographic in our country. As a professional community dedicated to access to information for all, they authors invite their readers to consider the positive aspects and potential benefits of embracing Latino communities and their collective cultural assets in ways that affect how we provide services and determine policies that will systemically and structurally shift our own professional culture to better serve Latinos in libraries, archives, and museums. -- Athena Jackson, Associate Director, Special Collections Library, University of Michigan Library In the second decade of the new millennium, health equity continues to be an elusive goal for our country and many others. Novel tools and approaches are needed in this information era to tackle the intractable problems of our generation. This book is such a tool providing innovative insights and suggesting new approaches that will begin to bridge the gap between our reality today and what we aspire to as Latinos and as a nation. -- Francisco Garcia, Director & Chief Medical Officer, Pima County Health Department, Arizona Latinos in Libraries, Museums, and Archives: Cultural Competency in Action! An Asset-Based Approach contains descriptive, historical background information on Latinos and information on how to offer culturally competent practices to them. LIS professionals will learn ways to reinvent library programming, and how to broaden their mindsets. Through each chapter the authors have given a voice to the voiceless. -- Alma Ramos-McDermott, Schools Coordinator for the Southwest Florida Blue Zones Project This is a much needed overview of efforts by Latinos and non-Latinos to use cultural competence to involve Latinos in libraries and museums. It goes beyond that, however, to strongly affirm the necessity of cultural competence as well as its effectiveness. The book also documents the power of communities themselves to create their own cultural centers. And it is mindful of the fact that Latinos have histories, cultures, and customs that are very diverse. Very valuable are the voices of Latino librarians and museum professionals as they attempt to define and implement an ethos of caring that reaches `the deepest sympathies' of the Latino community. -- Lillian Castillo-Speed, Head Librarian, Ethnic Studies Library, University of California, Berkeley This book is a must read to understand and deal with the complexities of incorporating cultural competence in the LIS profession. There are practical applications in each chapter dealing with different topics that make this book so valuable. I will certainly be using aspects of the book in workshops I present on cultural competence. -- Camila A. Alire, Dean Emerita, University of New Mexico & Colorado State University, American Library Association (ALA) President, 2009-2010 The book Latinos in Libraries, Museums and Archives: Cultural Competence in Action! An Asset-Based Approach, is a desirable and effective resource for all library schools! This well written book brings to light the importance of understanding and incorporating cultural competence when providing library services and outreach programs to diverse communities. The authors share their experiences and teach the reader the complexity and diversity of the Latino community in an easy way to follow and understand. This is a great book. -- Brenda Linares, Outreach Librarian & Coordinator of User Services Graduate Assistants, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill This book is a must read to understand and deal with the complexities of incorporating cultural competence in the LIS profession. There are practical applications in each chapter dealing with different topics that make this book so valuable. I will certainly be using aspects of the book in workshops I present on cultural competence. -- Camila A. Alire, Dean Emerita, University of New Mexico & Colorado State University, American Library Association (ALA) President, 2009-2010

Written by three experienced LIS professionals, Latinos in Libraries, Museums, and Archives demonstrates the meaning of cultural competence in the everyday work in libraries, archives, museums, and special collections with Latino populations. The authors focus on their areas of expertise including academic, school, public libraries, health sciences, archives, and special collections to show the importance of understanding how cultural competence effects the day-to-day communication, relationship building, and information provision with Latinos. They acknowledge the role of both tacit and explicit knowledge in their work, and discuss ways in which cultural competence is integral to successful delivery of services to, communication with, and relationship building with Latino communities.