September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month/Mes de la Herencia Hispana. The background is explained by the Evergreen State College (WA) Library, "The U.S. Government, in wanting to recognize the accomplishments of Hispanic-American citizens created by [sic] Public Law 90-498 National Hispanic Heritage Week on September 17, 1968. The law was later amended by Public Law 100-402 expanding the event to National Hispanic Heritage Month on August 17, 1988." More background is found in this article from Hispanic Heritage Plaza, more on the legislative history, including excerpts from the relevant legislation, can be found here and this year's Presidential Proclamation here.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Facts for Features, more than 42.7 million people, or 14% of the U.S. population, are now of Hispanic origin. See also some of their related multimedia releases (not all of which are current) and check out the Pew Hispanic Center for some of the latest "research and surveys on the U.S. Hispanic population."
Schools, classrooms, and libraries across the U.S. will be featuring displays, lessons, activities, and more to celebrate this diversity. In investigating how to do so, along with some of the "expected" kinds of lesson planning, game, and reading links (explored below), there are a few surprises, as well. Check out Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the National Register of Historic Places, a fascinating list of links that provide virtual tours of places "that deal directly with the ingenuity, creativity, cultural, and political experiences of Hispanic Americans." The Smithsonian Institution, with Ford sponsorship, presents OJOS, Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement, a virtual exhibition. For a local (Florida) flavor, see La Florida: Honoring Our State’s Spanish and Latin American Influences.
Also, the History Channel's site, Hispanic Heritage Month (NOTE: from 2005) announced a student photo contest which will be repeated in some form this year, though the rules are not yet posted. Click here and you can sign up for an e-mail to remind you of the contest (and its up-to-$2000 prizes).
Libraries will find the following to be especially useful:
- CFLC's Referencia Electrónica (a bilingual virtual reference desk; for resources for English speakers to use in helping Spanish-speaking library patrons, see in particular Para Bibliotecarios de Habla Inglés / For English-Speaking Librarians)
- Montgomery County (MD) Public Library's Hispanic Heritage Month Web Resources
- Springfield (MA) Library's Hispanic Heritage Month [2004]
- County of Los Angeles (CA) Public Library's Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Education World's Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
- Thomson Gale's Hispanic Heritage
- Smithsonian Institution's Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources
- Teachervision.com's Hispanic Heritage Month (some free; some fee)
- Montgomery County (MD) Public School's Hispanic Heritage Month
- Fact Monster's Hispanic Heritage Month
- InfoPlease's Crossword Puzzle, Theme of the Week: Hispanic Heritage Month
- Girl Power! Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
- Scholastic's Celebrate Hispanic Heritage!
SUBJECTS: CFLC CHRONICLES; REFERENCE RICHES
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1 comment:
Rather than editing the post, this comment can reflect the fact that the Orange County Library System has a relevant page to the celebration, as well.
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