Pawtucket librarian helps teach language through literature
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WJAR) — Maria Cotto, a bilingual librarian at the Pawtucket Public Library, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month through Latin literature.
A book written about New York Public Library's first Latina Librarian, Pura Belpre, is one of several books on display for Hispanic Heritage Month.
“It's called Sembrando historias: Pura Belpre: bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos,” she read.
Cotto said she’s been involved with the library since she was a teenager.
"I've been working at the public library since I was 16, but when I did find out about Pura Belpre at the American Library Association, it brought me to tears, because there's not many Latino librarians here in Rhode Island,” she said. “We need more librarians of color here in Rhode Island."
According to the U.S. Census, Pawtucket's Hispanic and/or Latino population accounts for 25% of the city's population.
Cotto is determined to meet them where they're at.
"I do bilingual story times, I do Latino book awards, book clubs,” she said.
The library has sections for native Spanish-speaking residents of all ages, as well as sections for children and teenagers and a Rhode Island Latino Books Award section.
"In our collection, we have a little bit of everything,” Cotto said. “We have books that are translated, books like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and DogMan which are really, really popular with the kids, but we also have books written by Latino authors."
Hispanic Heritage Month ends on Saturday, but people can check out the library and participate in book clubs anytime.
"They can also set their own goals in life and work towards those goals, just like the figures that we see on these picture books,” Cotto said.