Library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month through festive displays.
By Adrian Torres ’25
To celebrate Hispanic and Latiné Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), the Andrew Mellon Library curated a display in collaboration with the School’s Hispanic Latiné Forum (HLF) in the Reading Room. Additionally, a wide array of digital resources featuring works by the Hispanic community were spotlighted on the library website.
With its tradition of celebrating Hispanic and Latiné Heritage Month, the librarian team coordinated with HLF to celebrate and spread awareness of the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latiné peoples.
“We want to get input from authentic communities on these specific displays that we do,” Ms. Sam Nelson, Assistant Director of the Andrew Mellon Library, said. “So we want to make sure the books we’re putting out, the resources that we’re putting out, and the signage all reflect the people who this would impact.”
Members of the librarian team built on the library’s previous displays commemorating Hispanic and Latiné Heritage Month with additional recommendations by this year’s HLF cabinet. “In a lot of these books, there are aspects you can relate to if you’re Latino or Hispanic yourself, and that’s what we wanted to highlight and spread,” HLF President Sebastian Alavez ’24 said. “I remember when I was younger, I really enjoyed seeing that part of my life that I didn’t see in other English books being displayed.”
The library’s display included not only print books, but ebooks, audiobooks, films, and podcasts as well. Alavez explained the decision to incorporate different forms of media as “trying to get more people to see what Hispanic culture is able to give.”
The display also featured a diverse set of literary genres, from Sonia Sotomayor’s memoir My Beloved World to Sandra Cisneros’s book of vignettes, The House on Mango Street. “What stood out to me is the mix of classics of Spanish heritage and also more new and modern content,” Spanish teacher Ms. Angela Weston said.
“I hope students were able to see stories that were meaningful to them, to look at the resources and try something new that they maybe hadn’t tried before,” Ms. Nelson said. “I hope that they were able to see themselves reflected in what’s available to them so that they feel like they have a place here and belong,” Ms. Nelson said.
The library will continue its LGBTQ+ History Month display with the help of SPECTRUM, a student club, for the rest of October and will curate a display for National Native American Heritage Month in November.
