Recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month

Posted by Darlene Kaskie on September 22nd, 2023 Posted in: Blog
Tags: National Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

The 2022 American Community Survey estimated the U.S. population at 333,287,562. This includes 63,553,639 (about 19.1%) who identified as Hispanic or Latino. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

NNLM Member Organizations

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) recognizes our member organizations who help support our mission to advance health information access and equity for Latinx communities:

• American University of the Caribbean, Pembroke Pines FL
• American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Coral Gables FL
• Coalition of African and Caribbean Immigrant Communities (AFRICOM), Philadelphia PA
• Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico, Servicios a la Comunidad, San Juan PR
• Hispanic Access Foundation, Washington DC
• Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research, St Paul MN
• National Latino Bahavioral Health Organization, Cochiti Lake NM
• Hispanic Business Foundation of Maryland, Kensington MD
• Hispanic Community Services Inc, Jonesboro AR
• Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ponce, Ponce PR
• Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Juan PR
• National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Raleigh NC
  • Alabama Chapter, Birmingham
  • Connecticut Chapter, Middlefield
  • Western Massachusetts Chapter, Springfield
• National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque NM
• New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs – New Mexico State Library, Santa Fe NM
• Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, San Juan PR
• Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce PR
• UNC for Latino Health, Chapel Hill NC
• United Hispanic Nurses of America LLC, West Springfield, MA
• Universidad de Puerto Rico Rio Piedras CITEC Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, San Juan PR
• Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico – Escuela de Optometría, San Juan PR
• University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan PR
• Virgin Islands Medical Center (VIMS), Christiansted VI
• Virgin Islands Resource Center for the Disabled Inc, St Thomas VI
• Viva Hispanic Foundation NW, Seattle WA
• Pueblo de Abiquiu Library & Cultural Center, Abiquiu NM
• Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC), Chicago IL

Health Information Resources

The National Library of Medicine, as part of the National Institutes of Health, prepares reliable information resources that either are vetted by medical librarians for currency and accuracy or developed by our community partners with funding from our sponsoring agency. These resources connect users to high-quality information to improve access, use, and understanding of health information that is culturally relevant.

• MedlinePlus is an easy-to-read health and wellness information website for the general public available in Spanish and includes a collection of patient resources in additional languages.

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) – Region 6 under a cooperative agreement number UG4LM013729 with the University of Iowa, National Library of Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health awards health information projects and programs that are community generated. The following materials were developed by Region 6 organizational members. They are free to use.

• Health Information Translations Plain language health education resources for health care professionals and others working in communities with limited English proficient populations. There are over 3,500 resources in 15+ languages. Developed by the Central Ohio Hospital Council.
• Multilingual Health Broadcast & Social Media Graphics This resource provides over 260 culturally relevant infographics and videos in four languages to improve access to reliable, actionable health information that helps historically marginalized communities make informed decisions about their health. The graphics and videos are publicly available for you to use in your own community! Developed by TPT Now.

ABOUT Darlene Kaskie
Darlene Kaskie, M.L.S. is Community Engagement Coordinator for Region 6 of the Network of the National Library of Medicine. She connects communities to training, engagement, and funding to improve access, use, and understanding of health information. Advancing health literacy and digital skills training helps people make informed decisions about their health. She earned her Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) from the Medical Library Association.

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