History
The Latino Collection housed at San Antonio Public Library, originated with San Antonio’s Hispanic and Latino community in mind. The Latino Collection and Resource Center was created in 1996 by the Latino Leadership for the Library (L3), a committee of concerned leaders, interested in featuring Latino authors and books that would reflect the population of San Antonio. A hidden gem, the collection was kept on the 6th floor of Central Library until committee fundraising and a city bond made it possible to build a new department. It was decided that the collection would be relocated to a prominent first floor area of the Central Library. The successful outcome of this project confirms San Antonio Public Library’s ongoing effort to achieve social equity through expanding educational and learning opportunities.
In 2017, the Latino Collection was moved to its new space on the first floor providing greater accessibility to the community and adding a new programming space. This project provided a new home for the Latino Collection, but it also provides special spaces that allow the collection to be more meaningful and impactful through programming.
Collection
The Latino Collection is a bilingual collection consisting of fiction, non-fiction, and biographies. There is a smaller juvenile section, with reading levels of Easy, Juvenile and Young Adult. A large portion of the collection was donated by Chicano Studies Scholar, Dr. Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, from his personal collection. Our programming is inspired and supported by the Latino Collection, while the programming highlights and showcases the collection.
Checkout Procedure
Items from the Latino Collection may be checked out from Central Library with the approval of a circulation attendant (no self-checkouts). Item can be borrowed for up to 3 weeks total (max), but the item must be returned to Central Library. No online holds or renewals.
With newer or contemporary items purchased for the Latino Collection, our collections team usually purchases extra copies so that those copies may circulate the library system in a familiar manner (online holds and renewals allowed).
To receive latest LCRC news and special programming updates, register to receive our quarterly newsletter at: https://www.mysapl.org/Events-News/News-Media-Center/Newsletters
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