Knock, Knock

When you keep knocking eventually a door will open.

Library and Literacy Foundation of San Joaquin County established in 1990, supports "programs that foster literacy and support the power of reading." First supporting the Stockton-San Joaquin Public Library Adult Literacy program, they have since expanded to include various family and community activities such as their annual Trivia Bee and participation with Family Day in the Park.

Masood Cajee, one of the Foundation's Directors, followed up with Richard Soto and I recently to discuss our intentions for the bilingual library and museum. Masood and Photographer/Author Robert Dawson toured Biblioteca San Joaquin Mueritta; they walked through the halls and basement filled with books, magazines, albums, dvds and art work.

Masood gave several examples of public library systems with successful specialized libraries such as The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture a research unit of the New York City Public Library.

Could a Latino bilingual library and museum in Stockton follow a similar framework and be a part of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library resource? Yes!

We have agreed to partner our project with the Foundation's plan to improve our Stockton-San Joaquin Public Library resources. We couldn't be more excited!  This is a positive step toward making our bilingual library and museum a reality!

One Foot in Front of the Other

One Foot in Front of the Other

Between March and May 2014, I held a series of weekly planning meetings. Sometimes several people showed; a couple of times it was just me.

Besides Richard Soto and myself, several people met with us to discuss the idea of a bilingual library. I’m thankful to Bridget Childs, Research Attorney, who attended most meetings, has been very helpful providing insight, suggesting next steps and possibilities. I appreciate Nathan Worth, Grant Writer, who initially got me to document our intentions in order to search for grants. Also agreeing with me that the “money is out there”. Happily thankful to Saul Mora, retired educator, his wife and also his son, all very supportive in our initial meeting in March. Immensely grateful to Debbie Hernandez, who though her support, lead to the Stockton Record article by Rodger Phillips that drummed up community support of which I am still receiving emails about today!

After taking time off during the early summer weeks we tried to start up our meetings again. For some reason or another we just couldn’t “get the ball rolling” again. It was during that lull in momentum that I stepped back to look at the big picture. I looked over the notes gathered from each meeting. Those notes had formed a basic business plan! After organizing all of our thoughts on paper, we created a business plan for our bilingual library and Latino museum. Our ideas had formed into focus and direction.

Book by book building your personal library

I know all too well the bilingual section at popular book stores, i.e. Barnes & Noble, is extremely small not to mention pricey. Please take a look below at a good list of Children & Teen Latino books under $10, in paperback and available now! These will encourage your young ones to start reading about characters & places they can relate to.

Where the Flame Trees Bloom by Alma Florada

The Queen of Water by Laura Resau

Brujas, Lechuzas y Esparitos by Alonso M Perales

Ice Dove and other stories by Diane De Anda

Benito Runs by Justine Fontes

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola

Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora

Winner Takes All by Jenna Santana

The Maldonado Miracle by Theodore Taylor

Cruzando de Pacifico by Gary Soto

Whole Sky Full of Stars by Rene Saldana Jr

Nerlandia by Gary Soto

Esparanda Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Long Shot by Mike Lupica

Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio by Tony Johnson

Abuelita’s Heart by Amy Cordova

These affordable books can be purchased online bookstores such as http://www.valorebooks.com/ or http://www.amazon.com/. 

Take a peek....

I was so excited to have a look inside the Fair Oaks Library building! My worst thoughts were all put to rest when I walked in and looked at the awesome condition this 9,900 sq ft building is still in. It seems to be quietly waiting for the day it can reopen its doors to families again.

Of Biblioteca San Joaquin Murrieta Library

After asking many questions among my family and friends, I was introduced to another person here in Stockton who also shares the idea of a bilingual library. Richard Soto, not only has an extraordinary collection of Latino Chicano historical books, but also valuable artifacts, music and movies. His long time vision is shared through his website - Biblioteca San Joaquin Murrieta Library

It is a wonderful learning experience working with Mr Soto. He explains the library name "Biblioteca San Joaquin Murrieta Library" is a play with words combining our County name "San Joaquin" and the historical figure "Joaquin Murrieta".

With his help, not only can we begin to build a bilingual library, we can also share our Latino history through art and music in a museum-like atmosphere.

I am grateful he has agreed to being a partner in reviving the Fair Oaks Library!

Abuelita Storytime

One of the ideas to incorporate into a bilingual library has to be Storytime! And who better to tell stories than a loving Abuelita? I get excited thinking how we can encourage the community to come together in this way. 

These past two weeks have been spent writing down an action plan, forming a business plan & gathering support. Step by step, a bilingual library & technology resource center will happen! 

"We want more! We want more!" Languages!

Thanks to ¡Colorín colorado! for the video, “Two Languages at a Time”. It has wonderful examples of how Ms. Gonsalves 2nd grade teacher at Webster Elementary, Long Beach, California, 'gives equal time to both her native English and native Spanish speakers.'

Youtube Video by ¡Colorín Colorado! For more information go to: http://www.colorincolorado.org/

Perfect example of how bilingualism is possible and should be encouraged at a young age. I love the example of helping a young girl understand the word dinosaur. Why not have the resources to help continue this learning outside of the classroom? This is the vision of Revive Fair Oaks Library!

Friday Recap!

Researching bilingual libraries, bookstores and bookshops this week lead to more questions about the vision to revive Fair Oaks Library. What will it look like? What days & hours will it be open? What services will the community really want from their library & tech center? It's exciting to uncover the possibilities!
Take another look at 2 inspirational places >>

It can be done because it has been done

What was once just a passing thought became a possibility when I read a Facebook post of La Casa Azul Bookstore in East Harlem, NY. After seeing numerous postings of activities, book club discussions, and workshops - wow, I was blown away! It was my first time really seeing a successful, active bilingual book store.

La Casa Azul Bookstore, owned by Aurora Anaya Cerda, opened on June 1, 2012. Among various awards and recognitions, recently she was honored by The White House as a Champion of Change. Various literary activities include book clubs, author signings, writer’s conferences and workshops to name a few.

www.lacasaazulbookstore.com

What's the "big idea"?

As a child, I remember frequently visiting the Fair Oaks Library in Stockton, CA in the early 80’s. I can remember many afternoons walking over to the library to read a book, listen to the storytellers or just play there with friends.

Located within East Stockton, it has been the only library available to families in this area. For many years, it served this needing community whose recent statistics scream out as one in need of valuable educational resources - Unemployment: 18%; Residents below the poverty level: 31%; Median resident age: 26; Males: 53.8%; Females: 46.2%; Percentage of people that speak English not well or not at all: 30.1%; Percentage of foreign born residents: 37.3%; Percentage of family households: 58.2%; Percentage of people 3 years and older in K-12 schools: 28.6%; Percentage of students K-12 enrolled in private schools: 32.2%. Percentage of people in undergraduate colleges: 6.6%; Percentage of people 3 years and older in Grad or professional schools: 2.1%.

Unfortunately it was closed in 2010, among many buildings in Stockton as our city began facing bankruptcy. Since then it has stood silent and boarded up. I have driven past this building many times nostalgic for the days people would make use of this wonderful place. I want to see our community revive it into a Bilingual Library & Technology Center. To offer books & various publications in Spanish & English, provide technology resources & become a place where we can build ourselves into a strong, educated community ready for the future. My next steps are to continue to connect with supporting partners, create community awareness and of course gather funding.