Member Spotlight: Nancy Olmos

image of nancy olos wearing a purple tshirt and gray hat

Name: Nancy Olmos

Title: Young Adult Librarian

Library: Los Angeles Public Library

What is your primary library service role?

Young Adult Librarian

How does your work align with service to Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities?

I work in South Central Los Angeles where the community is over 80% Latino and Spanish speaking. My teen council is also predominantly Latino and Spanish speaking teens. We normally have bilingual programs for our teens and will be running a bilingual book club this summer with them.

What is your favorite aspect about your work?

I enjoy working with diverse communities and using my native language on a daily basis to help connect patrons with the information and services they need. One of my favorite activities is doing outreach in the community, especially connecting with teens. 

What advice do you have for other librarians and present/future MLIS students?

Speaking directly to BIPOC folks, we need YOU. If you’re thinking about library school or on the fence about it, GO! We need more folks at the reference desk who look like us to help patrons who look like us. Representation matters.

What programs have you been in charge of or involved with?

I try to be involved with as many initiatives as possible at the library. I join most Pride events in June and throughout the year. I am also a Neighborhood Science Librarian and have received training so our branch could have additional Neighborhood Science Kits. It’s a really fantastic program. 

What personal interests or hobbies do you have that you would like to share?

I enjoy the outdoors, gardening, hiking, camping, and, most recently, getting into bird watching.

What innovations would you like to see happen in services to Latine students and/or in public libraries?

I would like to see more social services provided by actual social workers to our patrons. We need casework for many of our patrons at different library branches. This important work needs to be done, but not by librarians. Even as our society continues to have changing needs and librarians are pulled in many directions, we need to continue doing the important work of librarianship.