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Evaluating Hispanic Accessibility on New Jersey County Public Library Websites

This 2005 thesis by Geraldine Paolini examines the accessibility of New Jersey county public library websites for Hispanics. The study analyzes criteria, related research, and findings to improve services for the Hispanic community. Research questions focus on site evaluation and criteria identification. Results reveal challenges in providing Hispanic-accessible resources, such as lack of Spanish-language databases and limited pertinent information. Conclusions suggest checklists and improved features to enhance accessibility.

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Evaluating Hispanic Accessibility on New Jersey County Public Library Websites

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  1. Evaluating the Web Sites of County Public Libraries in New Jersey for Hispanic Accessibility A Graduate Thesis by Geraldine Paolini May 9th, 2005

  2. Statement of the Problem • Due to a language barrier, Hispanics [anyone who is dominantly Spanish-Speaking] may not be able to access information on library web sites. • Hispanics make up 13.3% of the population in New Jersey. • Libraries should provide equal access for it’s services to the community.

  3. Purpose and Research Questions • To evaluate New Jersey county public library web sites to determine if selected access criteria were present. • What are the criteria for evaluating library web sites for Hispanic accessibility? • How accessible are the 20 New Jersey county library, or their equivalent, web sites to Hispanics?

  4. Most Important Related Studies • Reinford • Shapiro • Zelter & Polk

  5. Design • Survey-Observational Research • Survey/Descriptive • 20 county public libraries in New Jersey, or their equivalent, except for Salem. • Criteria list

  6. Findings • Newark Public Library- Essex County • Cumberland County • Most criteria not present on web sites • Spanish-language databases (highest frequency) Least frequent • Spanish site mirroring English • Language Link in visible area

  7. Findings Continued • Local info. about area • All Spanish-language resources linked on one page • Google en Espanol or other • Hotmail en Espanol or other • Spanish-language reference support

  8. Findings continued Criteria with zero frequency • Dewey classification explained • New titles reviewed in Spanish • Pathfinders in Spanish • Suggestion box in Spanish

  9. Conclusions • NJLA, ALA or REFORMA checklist • Libraries with highest % Hispanics in country • Not every county has a county library • Web sites down

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