EVENTS A-Z

The Newark Library has been welcoming, serving and celebrating the Latino community's numerous contributions and vibrant culture for decades. In the late 70s, responding to the growing Latino population in NJ, the library began actively recruiting Latino librarians, creating new services in Spanish and launching extensive outreach programs. Over the years it developed the largest collection of Spanish language materials in the state, created a Latino division and historical archive, and has offered hundreds of free public programs and exhibits that explored and celebrated the rich history and diverse cultures of Latin America and Spain while examining the ways the Latino diaspora has influenced and changed the US.
Today, close to 21% of New Jersey’s population identifies as Latino. The state has multiple
municipalities with Latino-majority populations. The northern part of Hudson County has been nicknamed Havana on the Hudson; Paterson is home to Little Lima, the largest Peruvian enclave outside of South America; and one-third of Newark’s population, the state’s largest city, is Latino. Many Latinos have been elected to public office, at both the state and local levels, and are excelling in business, the arts, sports, literature and many other areas.
The 2021 Latino Celebration exhibition celebrates 40+ years of Latino services, arts and culture at the Library and illustrates the evolution of New Jersey’s Latino community.