The Selection and Acquisition of 20th Century Latin American Literature

Abstract

Abstract Within the U.S. academic library world, a Spanish-speaking clientele is increasing and requesting that primary materials in Spanish be in the collection. Many of these materials come from Latin America and the Caribbean. Their selection and acquisition can be a complex task, especially for librarians responsible for collecting in this area who are not necessarily specialists. Twentieth century literary works pose special problems of identification and the timely acquisition of recent titles. This paper reports on the results of a survey that was sent to 54 libraries. Its objective was to investigate what selection tools and strategies are being used for these literary titles. Analysis by content and description was used. The discussion includes academic libraries in Illinois, where moderate growth of Hispanic populations is occurring. Trends there may be of interest countrywide.