Overcoming Challenges in Creating a Spanish-Language Collection

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Online (Zoom)

Collection development can be a challenging process for even the most seasoned librarians. It can be even more difficult when the selector lacks expertise in an area and or is faced with a language barrier.

With the rise in demand for Spanish-language materials, libraries of all sizes are finding it difficult to select materials with little knowledge of the language, publishers, authors, dialects, and more.

Our panel of experts will share the results of in-depth interviews with libraries facing these issues, what they learned about serving the Spanish-language community, and tips from their own hands-on experience that can benefit any library.

All ILA Noon Network webinars are free. The webinar recordings are available to ILA personal members shortly after the webinars. Registration for all live webinars is limited to Illinois libraries.

About the Speakers

Marissa (Guzman) Theilgaard has been working in the library field for just over two years. Although relatively new to the profession, her love for reading and working with children has always been a driving force in her life.

Currently, Theilgaard serves as a Youth Services Librarian and the School Liaison at the Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District. One of her proudest accomplishments has been the creation of the Youth Spanish/Bilingual collection, which has quickly become the library’s fastest-growing collection.

In her free time, Theilgaard enjoys working out, playing with her three dogs, watching cash-stuffing videos, and catching up on some well-deserved rest.

Overcoming Challenges in Creating a Spanish-Language Collection