La Casita’s Bilingual Library serves as an interactive space and lending library where children, visitors, students, and scholars can discover the richness and diversity of U.S. Latino, Latin American and Spanish literatures and cultures.
The Library is building a collection of culturally relevant bilingual children’s books written and illustrated by Latinx authors writing and reflecting on Latino experiences. The children’s book collection serves as an important resource for La Casita’s children’s youth programs, encouraging bilingual literacy through reading and writing activities.
Circulation Policy
In order to check out materials, individuals must be 18 years old and able to provide a local address and phone number. Children may check out books if they are accompanied by an adult who will assume responsibility for returning the books. There is a two-item limit and for a two-week period on checkouts, unless La Casita staff grant special permission. Periodicals, study materials and reference materials cannot be checked out but are available for use by arrangement of La Casita Staff.
Donations Policy
La Casita’s Bilingual Library does accept donations of books for its collection. Donors must make an appointment with the librarian or director of La Casita in order to describe the materials to be donated prior to bringing any items to the Library. All potential donations must be examined using the criteria below prior to delivery to La Casita to ensure suitability for addition to the collection. Books that are dropped off at La Casita without prior approval or examination by the donor will not be accepted as a part of the collection and will need to be collected by the donor.
In order to be added to La Casita’s collection, an item should:
- Support La Casita’s literacy programs and annual Hispanic Heritage themes
- Pertain to key current events affecting Latin America and/or notable figures of Latin American background/descent
- Be in Spanish or be bilingual (English/Spanish) in the areas of literature, culture, and history
- Be in good condition (not written in, no highlighting, spine and all pages intact, and not moldy)
- Be of reasonable currency or of use for historical research