This poster presents the development of a Spanish‑language collection at a community college designated as a Hispanic‑Serving Institution (HSI). The project advances culturally responsive librarianship and underscores the responsibility of academic libraries to cultivate collections that reflect and support the linguistic and cultural identities of their students.
The college enrolls a significant number of native Spanish speakers, bilingual students, and English‑language learners. Prior to this initiative, the library’s Spanish‑language holdings were limited in scope, outdated, and misaligned with student needs. Notably, the collection consisted primarily of fiction and lacked the academic and reference materials students sought to support their coursework. Through a community needs assessment, intentional and culturally informed collection development, and enhancements to cataloging and metadata practices, a robust and academically relevant Spanish‑language collection was established.
Early indicators show increased circulation and a rise in reference inquiries related to Spanish‑language resources. This project demonstrates how identity‑informed and community‑centered collection development can strengthen representation, foster a sense of belonging, and enhance academic success within community college libraries.
