COUNTYWIDE : Need for Bilingual Librarians Cited

When Jose Aponte’s son Pablo, 9, asked to learn more about his Puerto Rican and Indian roots, Aponte read books about both cultures to the boy--in Spanish.

“You can be the most educated people in the world, but if you don’t have a book, you can’t answer questions,” said Aponte, who is one of a few bilingual librarians in the county. “A library can fill the cultural, educational and informational needs of its community.”

Aponte, 43, who has created and implemented cultural awareness programs at the San Juan Capistrano Branch of the Orange County Library, says more bilingual--especially Spanish-speaking--librarians are needed because the Latino population is growing.

“The library is full of information, and information is power--power that enables people to take control of their lives,” said Aponte. “But if no one can speak their language and help, they don’t get it.”

Bilingual librarians “can open the doors for the Latino community,” Aponte added. “We can help with something as trivial as finding books that teach how to repair one’s car to something like learning what to do to prepare to become a lawyer.”

Ron Rodriguez, senior assistant librarian at Cal State Fullerton and president of the Orange County chapter of Reforma, a professional organization for Latino librarians, agrees.

He said Reforma is planning a campaign to encourage college students to become bilingual librarians.

Rodriguez said that there are 25 million Latinos in the United States, but only 1.6% the entire Latino professional work force are librarians.

“That figure is pretty appalling,” Rodriguez said. “It means a lot of people are not getting the bilingual service.”

Reforma has a program in place at UCLA, where students interested in becoming bilingual librarians are paired with professionals who serve as mentors. The same program will begin in Orange County colleges and universities soon, Rodriguez said.

“With the country’s changing demographics, we need to fulfill the people’s needs,” he said. “But that’s not the only reason bilingual librarians are needed. It has to do with the survival of libraries too, because if people don’t use libraries, they will be phased out.”

Aponte, of Laguna Niguel, said his profession is important and he tries to make it attractive by offering free folkloric dance, art and singing classes taught by volunteers to his library’s patrons in an effort to get more people interested in library jobs.

“Using the library gives people the power to make something of their lives,” the librarian of 19 years said. “People can learn here how to deal with tenants’ rights and legal issues, the school system, research the job markets or handle their own economic reality. . . . There’s a real need for this institution, and its bilingual librarians are crucial to help people with their needs.”