Some are recent immigrants compiling resumes for job searches, while others are longtime members of the community trying to reconnect to their Hispanic heritage.
They may be able to do it all at area libraries.
Librarians around northwest Ohio say more of their patrons want books and films in Spanish.
Ten libraries are collaborating to apply for a grant to meet the needs of the region s growing Hispanic population.
“A number of our rural libraries don t have adequate materials, and they ve seen requests for Spanish language materials increase,” said Allan Gray, director of the NORWELD library district, which serves northwest Ohio.
The library district applied for a grant from the State Library of Ohio on behalf of libraries in six counties.
The grant would provide $13,800 of federal money for Spanish materials, and the libraries would match the funds with $4,600 of their own money.
The libraries, in Fulton, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wood counties, will find out in the spring if the grant has been approved.
“I m hopeful that we ll get it,” Mr. Gray said.
The Ida Rupp Public Library in Port Clinton received a similar grant a few years ago. Library director Jim Crawford said the Spanish language collection now draws residents from all over Ottawa County.
“It s a comprehensive collection, so we have children s books, books for adults, periodicals, and films,” he said. “While all materials have been popular, the films have been especially well-received by the public.”
About 3.7 percent of Ottawa County residents are Hispanic, meaning their ancestry comes from Spanish-speaking areas, including places in Mexico, Puerto Rico, South America, and the Caribbean.
Ottawa County s Hispanic community has many families who moved there in the early part of the 1900s, Mr. Crawford said.
These families are integrated into mainstream culture and seek out Spanish films to celebrate their heritage.
The Rupp library holds monthly Saturday screenings of films in Spanish without subtitles. Visitors are treated to Mexican food while they watch the movies, which were mostly made in Mexico during the 1950s and 1960s.
“Years ago, the local movie theaters used to show Mexican films,” Mr. Crawford said. “Some of our patrons remember seeing our films as children.”
In other parts of northwest Ohio, recent immigrants want practical Spanish language materials, such as guides for creating resumes.
Children s books written in English and in Spanish are also popular, many of the librarians said.
This year, the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library in Fostoria spent about $1,800 getting adult nonfiction books and children s stories in Spanish. Darren McDonough, library director, said the collection should be on the shelves next month.
“We re just waiting for it to come,” he said.
The Fostoria library participated in the recent grant application with libraries in Elmore, Genoa, Bowling Green, Delta, Wauseon, Norwalk, Pemberville, Rossford, and Tiffin.
These libraries each each buy their own core collection of Spanish materials and share a rotating group of other books and films in Spanish.
“It s really innovative,” Marsha Wagner, director of the Rossford Public Library, said. “It allows us to try a new service and reach a portion of the community that may not be traditional library users.”
First Published December 1, 2003, 3:38 p.m.
