#about
About this Guide
If you would like to view this guide in another language, please use the drop-down menu at the top left corner of this page. / Si desea ver esta guía en otro idioma, utilice el menú desplegable en la esquina superior izquierda de esta página.
This guide offers a variety of starting points for research on Hispanic and Latin American culture. A search of the library’s catalog is complicated, because searching one general term such as “Hispanic” yields different results than another such term, like “Latin American.” Both of these search terms deliver results different than what searching specific areas of Hispanic or Latin American culture brings up. Kanopy offers streaming video, audio and film on a broad variety of topics and themes, including areas such as Hispanic American cultures and identities.
This guide brings together a curated collection of books, websites, films, educator resources and past programs. It aims to facilitate the same kind of discoveries as may be found in the library’s physical space. It also provides a brief discussion of Hispanic Heritage Month as a time when the library places a special emphasis on Hispanic and Latin American culture in its events and collections. For events held at the library during the 2025 observance, see the library’s Hispanic Heritage Month Events brochure.
A note on terminology: both “Hispanic” and “Latino” are widely used general terms for people with ancestry from these regions, “Latina,” “Latinx” and “Latine” are also in use, with differing opinions about their meaning and interchangeability. While the month is officially known as National Hispanic Heritage Month, the library frequently uses both “Hispanic” and “Latinx” to stay current with national conversations about language. As always with terminology of this nature, it is recommended to defer to the preferences of the person or people who are members of a given community.
#learn
Learn about Hispanic/Latin American Heritage
See below for lists of nonfiction and fiction geared toward adult readers and centered around Hispanic and Latinx experiences and perspectives.
For teens and kids, below are lists of books that highlight varied narratives and perspectives of those in the Hispanic and Latinx community.
Online resources include:
- Materials from the National Archives and Records Administration
- Resources from the Library of Congress
- Information from the National Park Service
- Collections and activities from Google Arts and Culture
- Hispanic American films from Kanopy
#educators
Resources for Educators
See the materials below for potential starting points for engaging learners. You’ll find lesson plans, digital tools, digital content, curricula, and more.
- Teacher resources from the National Endowment for the Humanities
- Resources from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino
- Teacher’s guide from Salud America!
- Resources from Ebsco
- Lessons and activities from the National Education Association
- Ideas for teachers from the Anti-Defamation League
- Resources from Facing Today, the blog of Facing History and Ourselves
#programs
Past Programs at the Library
Past programs held at the library and still relevant to Hispanic and Latin American culture are available on the library’s YouTube channel. Featured below are a few particularly notable recent programs, which continue to have significant relevance.
This recorded panel explores how “Latino Poetry: the Library of America Anthology” comprises a groundbreaking anthology celebrating the poetic traditions of Latino America. Featured as part of its programming for the “Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home” national public humanities initiative, this panel discussion was moderated by Vivia Font and it featured Rigoberto González, editor of the anthology and principal humanities advisor for the “Places We Call Home” project, Vincent Toro, a poet featured in the anthology and humanities advisor for the “Places We Call Home” project, and Newark-based poet and multidisciplinary artist Dimitri Reyes.
Christopher “Unpezverde” Núñez, a choreographer, dramaturg, educator, and disability advocate, speaks about his experience as an undocumented Central American immigrant with moderator Marielys “Lely” Burgos Meléndez, advocate, artistic researcher, somatic educator, writer, and audio describer. The discussion explores the intersection of the politics of immigration, indigeneity, artistry, gender, and disability. The speakers also consider the role that disability and heritage play in the development of new aesthetics in art-making. This recording is presented in partnership by Princeton Public Library and The Lewis Center for the Arts.
Maria Hinojosa, the Emmy Award-winning journalist, discusses her book with Princeton University’s Khristina Gonzalez and Elizabeth Cohen. “Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America,” is a story of immigration in America told through the author’s family’s experiences and decades of reporting, that paints a portrait of a country in crisis. The book relates the history of U.S. immigration policy that has brought us to where we are today. For 30 years, Hinojosa has reported on stories and communities in America that often go ignored. Bestselling author, Julia Alvarez, has called her “one of the most important, respected, and beloved cultural leaders in the Latinx community.” This recording is presented in partnership by Princeton Public Library, The Hun School and The Pace Center for Civic Engagement.
#month
Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month (NHHM) begins Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15. This month offers an opportunity to explore the stories and perspectives of those who identify as members of the Hispanic and Latin American communities. The library aims to include such topics in programming and content throughout the year, and this month serves as a chance to focus our efforts.
NHHM began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week. President Lyndon B. Johnson designated the week in response to efforts by legislators amid the increased focus on representation sparked by the Civil Rights Movement. Decades later, President Ronald Reagan, again building upon the efforts of legislators, transitioned the week to a monthlong period. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush became the first president to proclaim NHHM. The start date of Sept. 15 was selected for its historical significance to multiple Latin American countries, as several celebrate their independence days on or near Sept. 15. Mexico celebrates its independence on Sept. 16, while Chile observes theirs on Sept. 18. As this variation indicates, NHHM highlights a broad and diverse group of peoples, including those with ancestry linked to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Content made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this resource does not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.