Library access to Hispanic books in Bridgeton, New Jersey

<p>The Hispanic population is rapidly growing in Bridgeton, New Jersey. As the needs of the patrons change, hopefully the libraries are meeting those needs. The purpose of this study was to examine nine public libraries and public school libraries in Bridgeton, New Jersey to determine if they provided access to both Spanish-language and English books in their collections, books that reflect ethnic identities, backgrounds, history, and the culture of the Hispanic and specifically Mexican American population. The study surveyed nine libraries in Bridgeton using a combined bibliography of 78 award winning fiction Hispanic books. The researcher visited and checked each library through observation and by using the OPAC to search by author and title for each book.</p> <p>The results of the study showed the libraries in Bridgeton, New Jersey needed to update and add to their collections in order to meet the needs of the Hispanic patrons. All of the nine libraries had less than 50% of the children's and young adult fiction award winning titles in their collection. Every library in Bridgeton housed more Mexican American titles from the bibliography than any other subgroup.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. in School and Public Librarianship

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Special Educational Services/Instruction

Year dc:date.available

2006

Author dc:creator

• Pettit, Donna

Contributors dc:contributor

• Shontz, Marilyn

• Hispanic Americans and libraries--New Jersey; Libraries and minorities--New Jersey
• Library and Information Science

Repository record dc:identifier

https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/922

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-1922