The Library in the Lives of Latino College Students

Abstract

Libraries share a perception of embracing and providing for all users. However, they also share a common philosophical stance shaped by librarians’ individual discursive formations and the dominant cultural hegemony that values some users over others. Latinos constitute one of the fastest-growing, nondominant populations in the United States, and the literature suggests that libraries do not always serve them adequately. This was reinforced by interviews with seven Latino undergraduate students that suggest ambiguous feelings toward libraries and a strong need for some sort of cultural reinforcement. This study of users’ perceptions of libraries may help librarians and policy makers consider more pluralistic approaches to library services.