The UCR Library plays a vital role in preserving and celebrating the Hispanic community's history on campus and beyond.
Through our Special Collections, exhibits, and collaborative projects, we connect students with their cultural heritage while also providing a space for all students to learn about and appreciate the rich history and contributions of the Hispanic community.
As we approach Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place September 15 - October 15, we want to highlight a few stories you may have missed that underscores our commitment to preserving and celebrating Hispanic heritage.
One story highlights the experience of Belen Cardenas, a third-year English major in Fall 2022, who discovered a personal connection to her grandfather’s activism in the 1960s through the library’s archives. “Seeing and being able to interact with the history he lived through made me feel connected to him,” Cardenas shared. This connection was made possible by the library’s archival materials that were pulled specifically for her Chicano Studies class. Read more here.
The library’s collaboration with Chicano Student Programs (CSP) led to the creation of the first Semana de la Mujer exhibit in 2023. The exhibit was located in the Tomás Rivera Library and celebrated the Chicanas/Latinas in the lives of UCR community members. Special Collections Public Services, Outreach, and Community Engagement Librarian Sandy Enriquez emphasized the importance of this project, stating at the time, “I hope this exhibit helps people realize that this is their space too, and their stories deserve to be showcased with the same care and intention.” The exhibit’s success led to its return in 2024, and plans are already in place for it to continue in 2025. Discover more about the first Semana de la Mujer exhibit here.
A key way the UCR Library helped preserve UCR Chicano history was through the digitization of Nuestra Cosa, a UCR alternative Chicano newspaper that ran from 1972 until 2012. The project was made possible through a partnership between the library, CSP, Teatro Quinto Sol, and the Encuentros, Student Participatory Research Project (ESPARiTU). Sandy Enriquez highlighted the significance of this project saying, “There are so few opportunities, unfortunately, for students of color, students from underrepresented backgrounds like immigrant families to feel their experiences are reflected in the general narrative of UCR. Nuestra Cosa does really provide that authentic connection.” Learn more about the Nuestra Cosa digitization project .
Through strong partnerships with campus groups, the UCR Library plays a vital role in preserving, sharing, and celebrating Hispanic heritage. These collaborations not only keep the history and voices of the Hispanic community alive but also enrich the entire UCR community. By making these stories accessible, the library fosters a deeper understanding and connection among all students, helping to build a more inclusive and informed campus environment.