Testimonials
The TakeOff Program of the Umatilla County Special Library District serves all of Umatilla County.
“Our library district’s experience with the Libros for Oregon was inspiring. We benefited in purchasing a selection of books that have been well received by those we serve. We will continue to purchase books at the book fair and encourage other Oregon libraries to participate in Libros for Oregon. ”
The UCSLD’s mission is to provide support to all 12 of our libraries in their goal to provide excellent library services.
Being present at the Farmer’s Markets in individual communities provides that support to the libraries and helps promote the excellent library services they offer.
The target audience of the early literacy events are Spanish speaking and English language learners age birth to 6, as well as their parents, siblings, caregivers, and teachers.
Umatilla Public Library
There have been several positive outcomes that has come from our participation in Libros for Oregon. There has been an:
Increase in circulation
Increase in Spanish speakers coming in to the library
Increase interest in reading and in book clubs (we are now providing Spanish versions of the books)
Newport 2024
Mildred Whipple Library
As a small, rural library, Libros for Oregon has been greatly beneficial to both our library collection and our local community. Books purchased at FIL have greatly enhanced our Spanish language collection for all ages and reading interests. The selection committee did an excellent job finding titles that fit our specific requests – our library staff were thrilled to discover what was in each box and our community has loved the new titles. Since adding in our new titles, our Spanish collection circulation has more than doubled in the past year. This wouldn’t have been possible without Libros for Oregon!
— Katrina Johns, Librarian
Graphic Novel Contest
As part of our strategic goal of expanding programs to underserved audiences, especially tweens/teens and rural populations, we held a graphic novel contest that we playfully called “Teen Comic Con-test”.
Teens have been given supplies to draw and write their own graphic novel or comic book and the only requirement is that another language other than English must be used in the story.
Prizes (graphic novels) will be given for both story and art, but our goals for our tweens/teens include:
1. Become more aware of applicable resources and services provided by the library
2. For them to want to use the library more often
3. That teens will feel welcomed and included at the library
Although we still have data to collect – our data so far shows that we are heading in the direction of success.
— Jackson County Library Services
“Our community connections and partnerships have been the most effective. Not only have we grown a young set of readers we have built a committed set of library users.“
— Newport Library
Cinco de Mayo Community Celebration
We were able to check-out books in Spanish and English at the event. Many of the Spanish language books were purchased at FIL in 2021. They were excited to see some of the available collection. Many participants have come into the library to check out more of the books purchased at FIL in 2021. We incorporated the books into our event and it was a very positive experience.
— Laura Kimberly, Director
Novelas Gráficas y Arte
The Wy’east Middle School Library partnered with the art classes offered at Wy’east Middle School for an art project.
It was so fun to see some of the students' reactions when we told them they were going to be using Spanish Graphic novels. It was a quiet smile of being acknowledged. Several students wanted to check out the books to read after the project.
--Corinne Dichter, Media Assistant
Ballet Folklorico at Salem Public Library
Salem Public Library hosted a performance by Ballet Folklorico live in our auditorium. The group specializes in traditional dances from different states of Mexico, including Oaxaca, Veracrus, Sinaloa, and Jalisco.
In the lobby, we had a display of materials purchased at FIL along with a booklist of those items. We also talked about FIL during the group’s introduction.
Simultaneous English and sign language translation were offered.
-- Sonja Somerville
"Estacada Public Library was one of the first LINCC libraries to receive these new materials. This growth in our Spanish language collection has allowed the library to offer more programs and classes this year such as Language Exchange/Intercambio de Idiomas and Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros. Thank you, Libros for Oregon!"
— Alice Perez Ververa, Library Specialist III
“I had so much fun at FIL! Everyone was so nice and the experience was worthwhile. I was a bit overwhelmed because it was so busy and a lot was going on, but Star was great at making sure we took breaks and checking in with us… and provided Jessica and I a list of items to bring to the trip that I found very helpful.”
— Lia from Emporia
“Thank you for your wonderful presentation of your excursions/experiences at FIL. I really appreciate the hard work you have done/are doing. I plan to discuss FIL and your model with my branch manager this Friday. I’m really thankful for the opportunity to attend [your session at] OLA 2018.”
— Itza Vilaboy, LIBROS Secretary, San Diego, CA
“Since our ribbon-cutting for our newly expanded Spanish language collection, we've seen a significant increase in circulation of Spanish materials — in some collection areas, circulation has gone up by 100%! Not only did the purchases from FIL breathe new life into our collection, but monitoring the collection since their introduction has helped our selectors determine what subject areas and topics to continue to watch for and collect on an ongoing basis. We're thrilled to be part of the project and are already putting together our desired topics lists for next year!”
— Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney, MLIS, LIBRARY DIRECTOR
"-Libros for Oregon brings books that can't be bought through traditional ordering methods in the United States into communities throughout the state. Since Oregon’s Hispanic population is growing rapidly in many locations, it’s critical that local public libraries offer quality materials in readers’ first language.
-Libros for Oregon helps small libraries, rural libraries, and librarians without Spanish language knowledge add high quality, diverse books to their collections AND form better relationships with the Spanish-speaking communities in their service area.
-Going to FIL is not expensive if you have a knowledgeable staff member you can spare for a week, but acquiring the knowledge is not easy...especially if you don't speak Spanish well! By participating as a traveler through the program, librarians from medium-size libraries with limited Spanish language knowledge can learn the skills needed to be a FIL buyer. They can take this knowledge back to their local communities and use it to help develop long-term, sustainable plans to improve their Spanish language collections.
-Although going to FIL is not expensive, not every library can spare staff for a week. Libros for Oregon helps leverage Oregon libraries’ resources by providing access to a vast quantity of Spanish language materials through an organized program with skilled librarians who understand the needs of the libraries they are helping to purchase materials. This ‘getting the most bang for the buck’ is an effective use of taxpayer dollars and relieves pressure on under-staffed libraries as well.”
— Maureen Cole, Library Director
“Working with the LfO Committee was very easy. Their explanations to questions about the application were timely and concise.
It was like Christmas morning when our books arrived. Not knowing what the selection committee picked made opening each box a pleasure. Their selections were just what we were hoping for. They killed it with my specific request for cookbooks. The selection for children, young adult and adult books was fantastic!
The vendor’s packing slips all matched the boxes and every item on the packing list was in the correct box. The books all arrived in very good shape. I was a little worried about how much time it would take getting the books from Mexico to the vendor in Michigan and then to us. Not a problem. I would use this vendor for domestic purchases if I could.”
— Ted Smith.