Libros for Oregon: Collections Connect Communities A New LSTA Grant to Help More Oregon Libraries Take Advantage of the Guadalajara Book Fair

Acquiring good books in Spanish for our libraries is a perennial challenge. In the fall of 2015, a discussion arose on some Oregon library listservs about the challenge of connecting our patrons with culturally-appropriate, high-quality Spanish books. Author Gitlitz gathered a team to put together an LSTA grant proposal for a project called “Libros for Oregon,” with a goal of increasing access to high-quality Spanish language books for the users of Oregon libraries, particularly smaller, rural libraries. The project has three parts: (1) form an Oregon library book-buying cooperative (with new participants each year) to purchase materials for members at the International Book Fair (FIL) in Guadalajara; (2) help participating libraries to develop and implement outreach plans for connecting their enhanced collections with their Hispanic/Latino communities; and (3) create a “Best of FIL” booklist (annotated to show US availability) for all Oregon libraries to use in collection development. The article explains the grant’s goals and timeline; gives a sense of the immense Guadalajara book fair; and discusses avenues for Oregon libraries to participate in this project in upcoming years. This project is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Este programa es patrocinado en parte por el Instituto de Museo y Servicios Bibliotecarios a través de la Ley de Servicios Bibliotecarios y Tecnológicos (LSTA), administrado por la Biblioteca Estatal de Oregón