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  • August 30, 2023

LA County Library Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month!

LA County Library Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month!

LA County Library Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month! 1024 683 LA County Library

Hispanic Heritage
Month

Can you tell me more about Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM)?

National Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) recognizes and celebrates the culture, contributions, and heritage of Hispanic Americans. Now observed annually from September 15 to October 15, this national observance was first established by Public Law 90-498 and approved September 17, 1968 by the 90th Congress.

Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more.

Why does HHM start in the middle of a month? The months of September and October cover a wide range of independence days for Latin American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all celebrate their independence on September 15. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, Chile on September 18, and Belize on September 21. El Día de la Raza (Columbus Day) is observed on October 12.

A Message from LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis

How is LA County Library commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month?

We have specially curated booklists that explore the Hispanic American experience in the US. These book titles are appropriate for all ages.

We have family-friendly events throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, and you’re invited! Create a piñata or make your own Mesoamerican inspired mask. We also have other fun activity ideas on this page as well as digital resources. Please see below for more details about how LA County Library is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

Events

Activity Ideas

All About Frida
Learn about Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist and feminist icon, best known for her portraits, self-portraits, and her nature-inspired pieces, and one of the most famous and beloved artists of the world. Then create your own artistic masterpiece in the style of Frida Kahlo!

Explore Mariachi
Come celebrate the beauty of Mariachi music, and learn of its importance in the Mexican community, with this collection of resources to help you explore the heart and soul of this cherished art form!

Papel Picado
Make your own Papel Picado, a traditional Mexican craft generally displayed for celebrations and holidays!

Share Your Immigration & Citizenship Stories

Los Angeles County is a region of immigrants, and each has a unique and wonderful story to tell. We want to hear yours! Do you remember the day you left? How did you feel when you first became a naturalized citizen? No matter your country of origin or current status, consider sharing your journey with us. Submit your stories in any form such as written narratives (Doc, PDF), images, audio, or video. Submissions will be reviewed and then posted on our BiblioBoard community collections so others can learn and grow from your experiences.

Chicano Resource Center

The Chicano Resource Center at East Los Angeles Library was established to serve the needs of the Mexican-American (Chicano) community and to make information about the history and culture of this group available to the general public.

Digital Collections

Tell Your True Tale

From 2014 to 2017, LA County Library hosted 8 Tell Your True Tale Writing Workshops with author Sam Quinones. Participants in the workshops wrote, edited, and published nonfiction stories as part of a short story collection edited by Mr. Quinones. Stories from all 8 workshops are available to be read on our website.

Foto East LA

Foto East LA is a project to create an online collection of images depicting the history of one of the nation’s most culturally rich communities. From everyday events to extraordinary moments, we’re gathering historical images taken by locals—just like you—who have experienced East LA firsthandSubmit a photo to the collection today.

Additional Information

National Hispanic Heritage Month website, brought to you by the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and Records Administration, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Park Service, National Endowment for the Humanities, and National Gallery of Art.

US Census – Facts and Features, Hispanic Heritage Month 2021

Digital Resources

OverDrive Hispanic Heritage Month Collection – eBooks and Audiobooks
Kanopy Hispanic American Stories – Movies and TV
Mariachi Playlist on Freegal – Download and Streaming Music

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