USF鈥檚 LIS Instructor, Alicia K. Long, along with Broward County Library Manager and 哔咔漫画 SI Alumna, Freda Mosquera, presented at the Florida Library Association (FLA) Annual 2024 Conference. Their session titled 鈥淟ibros Libres: Freedom to Read Latino Books,鈥� addressed the increasing barriers faced by Latino literature in Florida amid ongoing book challenges.
Long and Mosquera's presentation underscored the crucial role that Latino literature plays in providing representation and fostering understanding across different cultures. The backdrop of this session is Florida's evolving demographic landscape, where over 27% of the population is of Latino-American or Hispanic origin. This community faces unique challenges, especially in accessing literature that reflects their experiences and heritage. Latino books offer a wealth of themes, experiences, and perspectives that are invaluable not only to readers within the Latino community but to all readers seeking to enrich their understanding of the human experience.
One of the key highlights of the session was the announcement of a new book grant from REFORMA de Florida. This grant aims to support the distribution and accessibility of books by Latino authors and illustrators that bring the Latino cultural experience to children in Florida's communities. To conclude their presentation on a high note, Long and Mosquera hosted a door prize giveaway, where ten lucky participants received a new Latino book for their collections.