Mark Novak states in his book “Issues in Aging” how there are various subcultures in the Hispanic minority group in the United States which each its own unique history and experiences. For Hispanics, there are Mexican, Cuban, Central/South American, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic subcultures (p. 162). The Eastern Orthodox Christians (Orthodox) also have a diverse group of people in it with each subgroup being very different from the others. Differences can be seen in people from Greece, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ethiopia, Middle East, and so forth. As there can be a lack of understanding between subcultures in both between the Hispanic subgroups as well as between the Orthodox subgroups, there are also people outside the culture of Hispanic or Orthodox where variances can be seen. However, beyond the differences can many similarities be seen. Besides living in the United States, most people in the Hispanic group and the Orthodox group are family oriented. Most have problems with money, or at least have to be very careful with it. For some in their subculture there are even language barriers, with both American born people as well as recent immigrants.
Some solutions are similar when working with a diverse group of people, which include having library staff learn about the various subcultures in their population (whether they are going to the library or not). For example, if there is a large Hispanic population that is never seen at the library, see why is this the case? If there a cultural or language barrier, the solution would be to bring in volunteers from a local church to help with the overflow. Another option would be to bring in an expert who may want to explain their culture to library staff and brainstorm ideas to deal with these issues. It is also important to evalutate items on hand. It is necessary to make sure there re there enough Spanish items such as subtitles for the movies, Spanish music, and books in Spanish. Beyond this, guest speakers who may speak their language and dialect may be brought in to educate about various topics.
After learning about the population, networking with other programs is the key to helping the various subcultures. Programs can include anything in the local or national level. Volunteer programs for the poor and others can help with life skills classes including budgeting, balancing a checkbook, and employment education for those wanting to go back to work. Also helping with life skills as well as social skills are local churches, and social clubs. Governmental agencies such as this help with translators for navigating governmental help, helping people get from the nursing home back to their residences and help explain the application of governmental services to get a job at any age. Also helping younger people from being in a difficult financial situation when they are older is one of many important ideas that are addressed. Currently, there nursing homes where library staff volunteers can read summaries and books to those interested, bring library services to them, such as a book mobile, or conversely bring patrons to the library by a bus are already implemented. Hospitals and doctor’s offices can give talks about preventive care, and learning from the experts, such as learning how to keep the brain thinking and growing at any age. Finally, spreading the word of various services in the paper, TV, and other media formats is already in progress.
A senior in a subculture, such as Hispanic or Orthodox, could be a good person to be on the board of a library or be apart of the Friends of the Library. Groups can meet ahead of time and discuss the needs of the population, and what the library can do to help those needs. The key is not to have services overlap, and to have someone organize various services already available that can meet at the library. In the least, the library can promote the services it offers. Libraries can also have activities for all ages of all of the diverse populations such as the Hispanic and Orthodox groups in the local libraries.
References
Novak, M. (2009). Issues in Aging. New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.
Hey Christina!
ReplyDeleteI did not realize that Libraries normally did so much community research, but I suppose that makes perfect sense. Having a community library is such a good way to integrate immigrants, if it can be made to facilitate their particular difficulties. I wonder if a lot of these immigrant peoples are familiar with public library systems at all. And if not, how to reach them?
I like all your thoughts, especially those concerning the elderly. There is not enough care, much less reverence paid to the elderly in our society, which I think reveals a moral weakness in us.
I like where you're going with community collaboration, though. What local library are you at? Dorr?
Keep up the good work!
Tim