Organizing Spanish-Language Items

After selecting Spanish-language items, obviously they need to be properly organized as they are added to the library collection.  To explore this topic I read an article entitled "Use of the Spanish Language in Organizing Library Materials for Latinos," which is part of the Library Services to Latinos anthology.  The article provided a good foundation for the display and cataloging of Spanish-language materials.  Highlights include:

• Spanish-language materials can either be inter-filed with the general collection or housed separately.  Separate collections facilitate browsing and show that the library is actively considering the population's information needs.  Bilingual materials can be a part of either the Spanish or English collection.
• Organization can be determined by local criteria and shelved base on:
• Where the item is most needed.
• The language of the intended audience (best for second language instruction material).
• The language of the first or most prominent part of the title (in terms of bilingual materials).
• A separate collection of materials by or about Latinos, regardless of language.
• Which section it was specifically ordered for by the collection developer.
• AV: Use Spanish in the bibliographic access for items with original dialog in Spanish.
• Labels: Both users and shelvers should be able to identify an item at a quick glance.
• Label items bilingually with bright colored stickers.
• Language designations on labels should be underlined with a yellow highlighter.
• Bilingual items should be labeled as such.
• Policies and Procedures: Should clearly define the hierarchy of call numbers, the vocabulary used on call number labels, and the designation of the main entry mark.
• When an author has two surnames, shelvers should be sure to shelve the item by the first surname.
• Spanish-language flyers and/or posters explaining DDC should be made available.
• Bibliographic records should be available in Spanish.  The availability of Spanish subject headings increases independence in terms of patron access.  A "notes" section in Spanish is especially important if your OPAC provides keyword search access.
• The Oakland Public Library and the San Francisco Public Library have developed an extensive list of around 1,500 Spanish-language equivalents of Library of Congress Subject Headings.
• There should be bilingual online instructions for OPAC use.

Although technical services are not my area of interest, this article was particularly enlightening for me in thinking about how difficult it would be to catalog an item if you didn't speak the language.  Since I'd like to work in a smaller library, I have a feeling that I would end up taking on many more job aspects as a Spanish-language services librarian, from storytime, to adult programming, to collection development, to some aspects of cataloging.  So, obviously it is important to be aware of the issues surrounding the organization of the materials I will be managing and promoting!