This document discusses information seeking behavior of Hispanic American patrons for public library services. It covers topics such as information seeking behavior, user group studies in public libraries, the Hispanic American and immigrant user groups, and issues with library services for Hispanics. It also examines the information seeking behavior of Hispanic Americans and immigrants. Additionally, it provides recommendations for how public libraries can address the information needs of Hispanic Americans and immigrants through services such as developing Spanish language collections, literacy programs, and ESL/computer classes. The goal is for libraries to better understand Hispanic patrons and provide suitable services.

1. Information Seeking Behavior of
Hispanic American Patrons for
Public Library Services
BY MARIA GAGNE
INFO 5685
DR. ELENA VASSILIEVA
MAY 8, 2017

2. Table of Contents
 Overview - 3
 Information Seeking Behavior - 4
 Information Professionals & Information Seeking Behavior
– 5
 Researching the Information User - 6
 User Group Studies – 7
 User Group Types of Public Libraries – 8
 Hispanic American User Group – 9
 Hispanic Immigrants - 10
 Libraries for Hispanic Americans – 11
 Issues of library Services to Hispanic Americans– 12
 Additional Issues – 13
 Information Seeking Behavior of Hispanic American Users –
14 & 15
 Information Seeking Behavior of Hispanic Immigrants - 16
 Public Library’s Place in the Hispanic Community – 17
 Hispanic Library Users Chart – 18
 Addressing Information Needs of Hispanic Americans – 19
& 20
 Addressing Information needs of Hispanic Immigrants – 21
 Further recommendations – 22
 Resources for Librarians – 23
 References -24 & 25
2

3. Overview
In this presentation we will explore the following topics to understand the information seeking
behavior of Hispanic American Patrons and how to create suitable Public Library Services to
address their information needs.
 Information Seeking Behavior
 Research and User Group Studies
 Understanding the Hispanic American & Hispanic Immigrant User Groups
 Libraries and Library Service Issues with Hispanic American
 Information Seeking Behavior of Hispanic Americans & Hispanic Immigrants
 Public Libraries Place in the Hispanic Community
 How to Address the Information Needs of Hispanic Americans & Hispanic
Immigrants
3

4. Information Seeking Behavior
 Information Seeking Behavior is defined as
an individual’s manner of gathering and
sourcing information for personal using,
knowledge gain, and intellectual
development. (Osheni, 2016)
 Every person utilizes information seeking to
expand his or her knowledge and
understanding of the world.
 An individual must know where to find
information and how to address information
& resources to satisfy the information
needs/goals.
4

5. Information Professionals & Information
Seeking Behavior
Libraries and information centers are dedicated:
• Information
• The information seeking behavior of human
• Supplying manual and computer-based information systems
 Information seeking behavior is vital to how library and information science professional the address the
information needs of the different user groups they serve.
 This knowledge aids in making major decisions on improvements that will aid in innovating information
services and resources.
5

6. Researching the Information User
As a library and information science
professional we are studying and researching
• how humans seek information
• find information
• use information
• accomplish information goals.
• Knowledge of the information needs and
information-seeking behavior of users is vital
for developing library collections, upgrading
facilities, improving services to effectively
meet the information needs of users.”
(Prabha, 2013, p. 312)
6

7. User Group Studies
 User group studies are an excellent tool to study different user groups that a library
serves and how to properly serve the information needs
 The user studies would help libraries with:
• Identifying user groups of the library’s community
• Identifying information needs and if they are being met
• Understanding the effectiveness of current information resources
• Identifying any information issues or constraints
• Discovering different ways to satisfy information need (Issa, Abdulkareem, Isah, & Kupolati, 2011)
 User studies provide an overview of how useful current information services and
resources are for users and help make decisions on needed improvements.
7

8. User Group Types of Public Libraries
 Demographics of Public Library user Groups
depend on various factors such as geographic
location, community size, and funding.
 Typical user groups that public library serve
include:
• Children
• Young Adults
• Adults
• Bilingual
• Multicultural Groups – Hispanic American, African
American, Native American & Alaskan Native,
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Asia, Middle
Eastern & Caucasian/European
• Disabled
• Elderly
8

9. Hispanic American User Group
 The term Hispanic refers to individuals from
or have a cultural background from Puerto
Rico, Mexican, Cuban, South American,
Central American, Spain, and other Spanish-
Speaking countries/cultures.
 Roots trace back to different indigenous
cultures and/or Spanish Explorers
 The largest group is Hispanic Americans are
those of Mexican origin.
 Hispanic Heritage Month begins on
September 15
9

10. Hispanic Immigrants
 There are thousands of immigrants arriving
everyday in the US.
 “Among Hispanic adults in 2012, 49.8% were
born in another country, down from a peak of
55% in 2007.” (Krogstad & Lopez, 2014)
 While the immigration rates have dropped with
Hispanic Immigrants from countries returning to
Mexico.
 There is still a steady amount of immigration from
Spanish-Speaking Countries
 According to the U.S. Census (2012), Hispanic
population is expected to more than double,
from 53.3 million in 2012 to 128.8 million in
2060
10

11. Libraries for Hispanic Americans
Some services Libraries could provide:
 Positive change for individuals, families & communities
 Free access to library services, resources, and
programming
 Helping transitioning immigrants to US Citizens
 Bilingual Literacy & Services
 Formats of print and electronic resources in Spanish
 And more
11

12. Issues of Library Service to
Hispanic Americans
 “U.S.-born Latinos—83 percent of whom said they had
visited a library—and nonnative individuals, of whom only
60 percent had done so.” (Peet, 2015).
 Difficulties with cultural and Spanish linguistics differences.
 Language barriers and low literacy are two of the main
obstacles to Spanish speakers seeking and using information.
 Unable to operate outside of the community information system
they have established for themselves.
 Services currently provided by a library are not suitable or not
familiar to the Hispanic Library Users including families.
12

13. Additional Issues
There is a lack of research on the information needs,
uses and behaviors of Hispanic populations.
There are issues with:
• Lower computer ownership rates
• High high-school drop-out rates
• Low rates in obtaining a college degree.
There is a growing mindset that libraries are
becoming obsolete and a preference of finding
information on their own.
13

14. Information Seeking Behavior of Hispanic
American Users
 To better understand their information needs we must
understand the information seeking behavior of
Hispanic Americans
 Spanish-speakers prefer face-to face and/or group
interaction
 Seek information from trusted and respected
individuals like family, friends, and community leaders
 “The importance of “gatekeepers” in the access
and retrieval of information in Hispanic
communities cannot be overstate.” (Meis, 2007).
14

15. Information Seeking Behavior of Hispanic
American Users
 Have strong interest in computer literacy and
owning a computer
 Access to computers and internet for:
 Social media
 Healthcare information
 Email
 Career Information
 Entertainment
 More
15

16. Information Seeking Behavior of Hispanic
Immigrants
 Poor in information seeking and access.
 Information needs are deprived due to a variety of issues including
social, economical, language, culture, and educational.
 Seek information on consumer affairs, education and literacy,
employment, family planning, health, home and family,
housing, the law, political process, recreation, transportation,
and recreation welfare or social service programs. (Childers, 1975).
 Seek to learn English to decrease dependence on others including
their children.
 “The radio is often a source of defining where immigrants will
go either to secure further information or find an interpreter.”
(Fisher et al., 2004)
16

17. Public Library’s Place
In the Hispanic Community
 Value library services due to the access to free
physical/electronic books, media, and computer and
printing services
 80% of Hispanics Americans strongly agree libraries
“promote literacy and a love of reading.
 54% of Hispanic American find the library an outlet
for services they have difficulty of finding
elsewhere. (Brown & Hugo, 2015)
 Find libraries a place to satisfy for their satisfy their
information needs and succeeding in life.
17

18. 18

19. Addressing Information Needs of Hispanic
Americans
Public Libraries should provide Hispanic Americans
with services that include:
• Development of Spanish Language/Bilingual Collections
with more physical and electronic books, CDs, DVDs,
Audiobooks, Periodicals, and more.
• Provide books and programs that help members of the
community expand their knowledge and explore the world
(De Cordeiro, 2016)
• Bilingual Literacy services for children, families, and adults
• Providing ESL, computer and skills based classes
• Developing a Spanish version of the library website and
having electronic databases and resources that have
Spanish language options. (Dunatov, 2010)
19

20. Addressing Information Needs of Hispanic
Americans Cont.
Additional services and ideas include:
• Hispanic Children Literacy Programs
• Educational and Career Assistance Services
• Spanish Version of Reference from Librarians with a Spanish Background
• An easily accessible Spanish version of the Library Catalog
• Information on program and services in Spanish that is provided in a monthly
newsletter sent out via mail and email.
• Signage, displays, and flyers in Spanish
• Posting information and announcements on Library social media sites in English
and Spanish
• Considering Spanish and English as options when purchasing books, magazines,
and newspapers.
(Rosales, 2016)
20

21. Addressing Information Needs of Hispanic
Immigrants
Public libraries should provide immigrants with:
• Literacy services
• Computer access
• Job seeking and training workshops
• Library services for adult and children learners
• Free ESL Classes
• Spanish Library Materials – books, CDs, DVDs, electronic resources, etc.….
“Literacy programs are free, learner-centered library services that are essential to the
social, cultural, and economic development of rapidly expanding ethnic
communities.”(Kong, 2013)
21

22. Further Recommendations
 Hire librarians from diverse backgrounds including those from different language
speaking backgrounds like Spanish.
 Have diversity training and committees to have growth of cultural competence
amongst all hired librarians and staff.
 “Libraries should understand the cultural facets of Hispanic subgroups and build
relationships with community leaders to reach greater numbers of Spanish
speakers.” (Meis, 2007).
 Outreach services are crucial to success of services for Hispanic Amerian patrons
and also necessary for educating patrons from all backgrounds about Hispanic
cultures. Utilize the door to door approach to get to know Hispanic community
members and find out their information needs
22

23. Resources for Librarians
 Celebrating Diverse Latino Cultures, Literature, and Literacy Everyday -
http://www.ala.org/alsc/sites/ala.org.alsc/files/content/confevents/institute/institutehando
uts/Diversity%20Handout.pdf
 El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros -
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ninos/contents.html
 Guidelines for Library Services to Hispanics -
http://www.ala.org/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidelineslibrary
 Multicultural Library Manifesto - https://www.ifla.org/node/8976
 Outreach Resources for Services to People of Color -
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/outreachtounderservedpopulations/servicespeople
%20%20
 Reforma - http://www.reforma.org/
 Reforma Resources for libraries and librarians serving Latinos & Spanish -
http://www.reforma.org/content.asp?pl=9&sl=59&contentid=59
 Spanish in Our Libraries and Public Libraries Using Spanish - http://www.sol-plus.net/
23

24. References
Baro, E.E., Onyenania, G. O., & Osaheni, O. (2010). Information seeking behavior of undergraduate students in the
humanities in three universities in Nigeria. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science. 76(2).
109-117. doi: 10.7553/76-2-74
Brown, A. & Hugo, M. (2015). Chapter 2: Latinos’ Attitudes About Public Libraries and Library Services. Pew
Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewhispanic.org/2015/03/17/chapter-2- latinos-attitudes-
about-public-libraries-and-library-services/
Dunatov, K. (2010). Serving multicultural patrons at the Arapahoe Library District.In C. Smallwood ( Ed.), Librarians as
community partners: An outreachhandbook (pp. 148-150). Chicago: American Library Association. Retrieved
from https://learn.unt.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/COMBINED- NT752.1171.1.1967/Dunatov_2010_Serving.pdf
Caldera, Y. M., Velez-Gomez, P., Lindsey, E.W. (2015). Who are Mexican Americans? In Y.M. Caldera & E. W.
Lindsey (Eds.), Mexican American Children and Families: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (pp. 3-12). New
York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from https://learn.unt.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4369731-dt-content-rid-
57216473_1/courses/COMBINED-NT752.1171.1.1967/Caldera%2CVelez- Gomez%2C%20Lindsey_2015.pdf12.
Childers, T. (1975). The Information Poor in America. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
De Cordeiro, A. (2016). Access to Public Library Services for Spanish-Speakers. OLA Quarterly, 22(1), 29-
34. Retrieved from
https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=tru
e&db=lls&AN=116883668&scope=site
Fisher, K. E., Marcoux, E., Miller, L. S., Sánchez, A., & Cunningham, E. R. (2004). Information behaviour of
migrant Hispanic farm workers and their families in the Pacific Northwest. Information Research, 10(1).
Retrieved from http://informationr.net/ir/10-1/paper199.html
24

25. References
Issa, A.O., Abdulkareem, M. Y., Isah, A., & Kupolati, K. S. (2011). Information Needs of Public Library Patrons: A Survey of Users of
Kwara State Library, Ilorin, Nigeria. PNLA Quarterly. 75(3). 66-79. Retrieved from
https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohos
t.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lls&AN=527177992&scope=site
Kong, L. (March 19. 2013). Failing to Read Well: The Role of Public Libraries in Adult Literacy, Immigrant Community
Building, and Free Access to Learning. Public Libraries Online. Retrieved from
http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/03/failing-to-read-well-the-role-of-public-libraries-in-adult-literacy-
immigrant-community-building-and-free-access-to-learning/
Krogstad, J. M., & Lopez, M.H. (April 29, 2014). Hispanic nativity shift. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from
http://www.pewhispanic.org/2014/04/29/hispanic-nativity-shift/
Meis, C. L. (2007). Information-Seeking Behaviors of Spanish-Speaking Populations: An Annotated Bibliography.
Colorado State Library. Retrieved from http://www.lrs.org/documents/field_stats/infoseeking_spanish_2007.pdf
Peet, L. (2015). Pew Report on Hispanics and Libraries Shows Gap. Library Journal, 140(7), 18. Retrievd from
https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ll
s&AN=102081544&scope=site
Prabha, K. (2013). Information seeking behavior of different types of users in
selected libraries of Delhi. International Research: Journal of Library and Information Science. 3(2). p.312.
Rosales Jr., R. (2016). ¿Cómo puedo ayudarle? Providing the Best Service to Your Hispanic Community. Public Libraries, 55(1), 31-
33. Retrieved from
https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lls&AN=1
1 3452176&scope=site
United States Census Bureau. (2012). National Population Projections, Retrieved from
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html.
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