Hispanic Heritage Month

October 10, 2012

From mariachi performances to quinceañera fashion shows, libraries around the country found inventive ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 to October 15 in recognition of the contributions of people whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. ¡Viva la diversidad!

Audiences at Houston Public Library’s Central Plaza were entertained by a mariachi group from Patrick Henry Middle School and Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center. The performance was part of Houston Public Library’s 1st Annual Houston LibroFest on September 15, a lineup of free events that highlighted Hispanic writers and showcased Latino culture in the community.

At a meet and greet, Houston LibroFest guest authors Gwendolyn Zepeda and Claudia Kolker show off their award-winning books, The Immigrant Advantage and Better With You Here.

Children from Franklin Elementary’s Ballet Folklorico perform a Norte dance for LibroFest at Houston’s Central Library Plaza.

Images on display at San Antonio Public Library’s Central Library Gallery depict photos and movies posters of Mexican comedian Mario Moreno, also known as film character

Mario Eduardo Moreno Laparade -- the nephew of comedian Mario Moreno -- spoke at San Antonio Public Library’s VIP reception on September 19.

A San Ant0nio Public Library promotional poster announces an extension of its popular exhibit Cantinflas Retro: A Mario Moreno Retrospective, which will run beyond Hispanic Heritage Month until November 4. The library invites the public to an open discussion (platica, conducted primarily in Spanish, on the closing day of closing with Moreno’s nephew, Mario Eduardo Moreno Laparade. Light refreshments will be served and the gallery will be open for a final viewing.

Models from Loara High School in Anaheim, California, pose in dresses for the Quincea era Fashion Show on September 27, the first ever at the city’s Euclid branch.

A promotional poster from Alvin Sherman Public Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month as part of its

Julie Fuller, young adult librarian at Alvin Sherman Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, poses with the papel picado Hispanic folk art teens created at a September 27 program. The adolescents learned how to cut the intricate designs from Nova Southeastern University professor Tennille Shuster.

Athena Gamoneda holds Counting Ovejas, a Spanish-language book by Sarah Weeks, at Alvin Sherman Library’s Little Minnows Storytime Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The program, for ages 18-38 months, featured Spanish songs and readings by youth services librarian Meagan Albright.

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Ashley Cosby Fowlkes writes: “In February 2023, Warren County (Ky.) Public Library (WCPL) began working with LifeWorks at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, a residential community for neurodiverse young adults that focuses on independent living and job readiness. By May, WCPL opened a satellite location at LifeWorks—making it the state’s first public library branch dedicated to serving neurodiverse patrons. The satellite is designed to be a sensory-sensitive environment, enabling individuals with autism, ADHD, or other learning differences—who can become overstimulated in crowded public areas—to concentrate on their studies, read a book, or browse digital library resources.”

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Tess Prendergast writes: “As someone who teaches contemporary children’s literature, I have been following the surge of picture books about climate and environment topics for several years. While there has been some great scholarly research about such books, I have devised a simple framework for grouping these kinds of books. This four-tiered categorization may help you decided what to read, suggest, or display in various scenarios and for different audiences.”

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Max Eddy writes: “It’s a nightmare scenario: You’ve protected all of your online accounts with two-factor authentication (2FA), but then your phone is broken, lost, or stolen, and you’re locked out of everything. Past You’s effort to protect Future You has made Present You’s life a living hell. 2FA is supposed to keep attackers and scammers out of your online accounts, but what if something happens to your second factor? With a little planning, you can reduce that risk and still keep your accounts safe.”

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Nik Altenberg writes: “About 100 librarians and their supporters rallied outside San Francisco Public Library’s Main Library on April 9 to demand the city hire security guards for every branch. Workers decried a lack of security at most of the city’s branches and said they are often forced to de-escalate volatile situations and step into the role of providing security themselves. The rally is the latest in a series of union actions [from 10 unions representing more than 25,000 city workers across city departments] seeking to draw attention to what they say is a pervasive understaffing crisis.”

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Hispanic Heritage Month

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