Library to Survey for Needs of Latinos

A survey of Latino residents will be conducted by the Santa Ana Public Library to determine what services they would like to see from the city’s three libraries.

The library, which has two branches in addition to the Central Library at Ross Street and Civic Center Drive, needs to increase its Spanish collection and readership among the Latino community, said librarian Margaret Owens. The results of the survey will be used in an effort to obtain about $100,000 in state library funding, she said.

“I think we should have a good chance of getting the funds considering that we have less resources than any city of this size and also because we have such a large Hispanic population,” she said. The surveys will be distributed through such organizations as parent-teacher and church groups.

She said the library currently offers literacy programs and has a limited Spanish book collection, although Owens didn’t have a total available. Spanish videos will be available next year, and Spanish recordings and magazines are available, she said.

Owens added that all surveys will be confidential. “A lot of people are afraid to fill out surveys, especially if they’re illegal (residents),” she said.