10 Reasons Why Latinas Should Get a Library Card

National Library Card Sign-Up Month first launched in 1987 has been held during September to coincide with the school year and to encourage parents to get their child a library card that they can use for schoolwork. But we believe that there are so many benefits to everyone getting a library card, especially in the Latinx community. In fact, despite the number of services that the library offers, a 2015 study from the Pew Research Center found that Latinxs were less likely than their Black and white neighbors to have a library card or even visit their local library’s website. Sometimes it’s because of language barriers this it’s also been attributed to educational level, lack of access to the Internet, and lack of access to a library in their neighborhood that they can reach by walking or public transport. Latinas are even more at a disadvantage because we often earn half the pay of our white, non-Latinx male colleagues and can’t always afford to buy the newest books, movies, or technology for ourselves and our families. But we deserve free access to resources too and it turns out that there is more that we can do at a library than just checking out books. We encourage you to take these tips and sign yourself and your whole family up for library cards to truly take advantage of ALL the resources they have to offer. Read on to learn more about 10 reasons why Latinas should get a library card.

1. You can check out books by your favorite Latina authors for free

The most obvious reason to sign up for a library card is that you are able to check out books for free. Library collections have never been more diverse and it’s always exciting to see books by Latina authors on the shelf. Still haven’t read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia? Are you dying to read every book by Elizabeth Acevedo but don’t have the budget to buy them this month? Is your book club reading the one book by Zoraida Córdova that you don’t have at home? The library has you covered! Just go to the catalog of your local library and search for the book you want, or ask a librarian for help. Then, once you get your library card, you can usually check out materials for up to three weeks and request for more time after that if you haven’t finished it yet. Also be sure to check out books for the little ones in your life too, as many libraries offer a great selection of picture and chapter books by Latina authors for children that uplift our community and cultures.

And don’t worry about late fees! Since 2019, libraries in the U.S. have been eliminating late and overdue fees in order to reduce inequity in information access and the targeting of working-class and low-income communities. Some fines for lost or damaged books still apply though, so ask your local librarian about their policies if you’re not sure.

2. You can request that libraries purchase titles from Latina authors

Libraries are more diverse than ever but of course, there’s still a lot of work to do and sometimes librarians aren’t always aware of the gaps in their own collections. That’s where we come in! If you ever visit the library or browse the catalog and don’t see, say, For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez or the latest collection from a local Latina poet, library card holders have the special ability to ask the library to purchase the book for their collection. Not only does it help your library collection become more diverse but it also supports the author. Just fill out a purchase request form via your library account online or ask your local librarian in-person. If it’s approved, you may be put on the top of the hold list and be contacted when the book is ready for check-out. Sometimes, the book can even be sent to your home so you’ll be able to read it first before returning it back to the library, that way other patrons will be able to access it too.

3. You can borrow laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots

One of the major perks of going to the library is being able to access their free Internet, computers, and printers in the building, especially if they have a dedicated tech lab. But what if the library is closing and you need to finish writing your paper for your Chicana Literature class? Or you want your nephew to be able to play his educational games at home? Or even worse, your laptop broke and you can’t afford to get a new one? Many libraries now offer patrons the ability to check out laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots for free so you can access information everywhere you go. Internet access and technology are expensive so you don’t want to miss out on this amazing free resource from the library in your neighborhood.

4. You can stream Latinx movies, TV shows, and music for free

You may know that libraries offer you the ability to listen to audiobooks and ebooks on apps like Libby. But did you know that your library card also gives you free streaming access to movies, TV shows, and music? Ask your local library about their Hoopla or Kanopy subscriptions, which you can access by logging in with your library account information. You can stream classic films and TV shows like JLo’s Maid in Manhattan and even new releases like Twisters starring Anthony Ramos. You can also listen to Latin music for free through Freegal. Or if you’re in a mood for something like Selena, Hoopla has all of her albums in their catalog! Availability may depend on what subscription your library signed up for but it’s a great resource if you’re not subscribed to traditional streaming services or if they don’t have something you want to watch during family movie night.

5. You can get free tickets to museums and state parks

Museum and park tickets can be expensive, especially if the whole family is going. But many libraries now offer patrons the ability to reserve free tickets. In L.A. County, for example, library card holders can get free and discounted tickets to the California Botanic Garden, La Brea Tar Pits, and the Natural History Museum, among other cultural centers. All you have to do is log into the online portal, enter your library account information, and reserve the time and date you want to go. Millions of library card holders across California, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota can also check-out free passes to use in their respective state parks, which can be reserved for anywhere from one to three weeks. It’s a great way to save some money on a fun family or individual outing with friends.

6. You can access bilingual services, events, and programming for adults and families

One of the major reasons that Latinxs don’t go to the library is because of the language barrier. Not all library staff are fluent in Spanish and there isn’t always an interpreter present during events and programs. But we’re definitely seeing a shift in what language services are being made available to patrons. For example, many libraries now offer bilingual storytimes in English and Spanish, as well as Spanish-language and bilingual books and other materials in their collections. More librarians are developing Spanish fluency or prioritizing hiring library staff who can speak Spanish, which means they can lead programs in both languages or at least offer translation and interpretation. Obviously, there’s always more work to be done but progress is being made and it’d be worth taking advantage of it as a library card holder.

7. You can get help searching for jobs or creating your small business

Librarians aren’t just there to help you find the book you’re looking for, though they are very good at that. They can also help you out with many important work and career-related questions you may have in your life. Did you recently lose or quit a job? Are you ready to make a major career switch? Ask your local librarian for help and they will be able to show you how to do things you may not have done in a few years like create or update a resume, search for job openings in an online portal, fill out a job application, sign up for a LinkedIn profile, look into educational programs, and so much more. But what about if you’re ready to take the leap and start your own business? Librarians can help with that too. Whether you want to start the Latina clothing shop you’ve been dreaming about or a Mexican restaurant with your friends, librarians can help you find all the forms, resources, services, and information you might need.

8. You can ask a librarian for research assistance for school

Librarians are very good at research and they can pass those coveted skills onto you. Maybe you have an assignment you need to do for your grad program and you don’t know where to start looking for information. Or maybe you need to find statistics on how many Latinx people visit the library every year and you’re having trouble finding any studies. Ask a librarian! They are specially trained to conduct research and can show you the strategies they use to find information too. The library might even have access to databases that only library card holders can look through, and they’ll be more than happy to show you how to use those too. The goal is to not necessarily rely on librarians for everything but to learn how they do what they do and put those into practice and build autonomy for ourselves as Latinas throughout school, work, and life.

9. You can learn a skill or hobby you wish your abuela had taught you

Many of us may have watched our abuela, tias, or moms embroider, sew, knit, or crochet. They might’ve made or tailored our clothes. They may have even tried to teach us how to replicate these skills, only for us to get frustrated and give up when our stitches weren’t perfect, meaning we haven’t learned how to do it in adulthood either. That’s where libraries come in! Many of them now have what are called Makerspaces, which is a room or space where people can go by themselves or with the supervision of a librarian to express themselves creatively and try new skills. Depending on the library’s budget, their Makerspace can have a 3D printer, sewing and embroidery machines, photo printers, printing presses, and supplies for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and painting. As with everything else, crafting supplies can be expensive so this is a great way to get into a skill or hobby without the commitment of purchasing any tools – you can try it out at the library and engage with your inner señora with no strings attached. Some libraries even let you check out their sewing machines and other craft and hobby supplies, including gardening tools, if you want to work on a project at home with your family.

10. You can collaborate with the library to host a cultural event or program

At this point, maybe you’ve done everything at the library that there is to do. You’ve attended all the bilingual storytimes with the little ones in your life, you’ve requested a book or watched all the movies you were able to find, you got help from a librarian to start your business. But one other thing you can do at the library is to start an initiative, event, or program of your own! Libraries are always looking for partners in the local neighborhood who can reach parts of the community that they can’t. So if you have a special skill, passion, or interest that you’d want to teach others like creative writing, cooking, making music, or painting, reach out to your local library and see if they would be interested in having you host an event for their patrons like a workshop or demonstration. You can do it by yourself or through your organization or business, and maybe you can invite others in your circle to participate. All you need is a skill and an idea, and you can partner with your library to make a real, lasting difference in your community through education, visibility, and cultural pride.