Texas Librarian Promotes Diversity

Miriam Rodriguez is named Dallas Public Library's first multicultural coordinator

By Kathy Ishizuka -- School Library Journal, 10/1/2004

Miriam Rodriguez landed in this country from Cuba in 1983 without speaking a word of English, but she knew exactly where to get help finding a job and other useful information: the local library. So it's not surprising that 20 years later, Rodriguez has been named the Dallas Public Library's first coordinator of multicultural services. Her mandate? To provide programs and services that meet the needs of the city's multilingual and multiethnic community.

Rodriguez, who proclaims a life-long "passion for libraries," is uniquely qualified for the job. Besides an MLS and 23 years' experience in library services, starting as a 16-year-old library page in Havana, she was also an avid library user.

In her new job, Rodriguez has already spearheaded several programs, such as a Hispanic heritage drawing contest for elementary and middle school students. There's also an ongoing student poetry contest in different languages being run in cooperation with the Dallas Independent School District, and Rodriguez recently held her own workshop promoting multilingual services to the Dallas Association of School Librarians. "I want to spread the word about the incredible resources available here," she says. "It's free, take advantage."

With more than 70 languages spoken in Dallas's schools, these kinds of programs are in high demand. The library is building an Asian-language collection and planning programs with East Indian community groups. Rodriguez will also train staff to better assist library users with limited English proficiency.

Although other urban libraries have multicultural programming, this one "reflects the increasing interest and attention to the fact that our communities are increasingly multicultural and multilingual," says American Library Association president Carol Brey-Casiano.