Comments on FIL by US Librarians:
“FIL is a place that I can observe and then use that information to help me find Spanish-language materials that best serve those in my community that speak Spanish.”
“I don’t know Spanish, but I need to beef up my collection in Spanish. I spent much of the last year assessing its needs. This is a daunting task; FIL helps me at least know that there are things that I can use for my collection. And the networking here is super – I had no way of knowing how helpful this would be to my work!”
"I found the orientation on Sunday to be full of practical information – not the least was the expectation to be overwhelmed by the enormity of FIL. I learned how to handle publication concerns and to look out for what is best for my audience. The salon (Salon del libro) is quite helpful as it categorizes things for me. I like the Excell listings of the books here also.”
“There is a fair amount of pollution here. To an asthmatic like me, I need to be aware that this will impact my productivity. I also need to think about the amount of smoking that occurs in Mexico – it also impacts my health.”
“The altitude is something I need to be aware of.”
“There is a huge scope and variety of materials under one roof here. I find it somewhat overwhelming, but I am doing what I can do with all of this information.”
“I like to think that my focus helps me be a better selector. I try to look for the areas on the exhibit floor that best serve my needs first. I also like seeing what is new each year (she had been coming to FIL for 3 years).”
“I seek out other librarians that have been to FIL before for guidance. I also use the REFORMA/ALA website to help me know what I can do here.”
“There really isn’t anything in librarian literature to prepare you for this event. I would like to feel better prepared when I come.”
"The orientation/Gala is much improved over last year – the food is better, the handouts mean more, and there was a good opportunity to network both here and online before the event.”
“I am challenged by food ordering, by the money exchange issues, and by just understanding all that I need to understand here.”
“I need to beef up my collections for our Russian, Asian, and Hispanic populations. We are seeing great influxes of these ethnic groups into middle America and have next to nothing for them to use.”
Vendor/Publisher/Jobber/Distributor Hints:
There are many exhibitors that range from scholarly translations to children’s books. All are in Spanish. Several main vendors/jobbers to look for are as follows:
Planeta
Oceanic
Lectorum
Random House
Baker & Taylor
McGraw-Hill
Follett
Brodart
Additionally, there are small presses and publishers that just might have what you are looking for, so you will want to take time to peruse their materials.
For some insider information about some of the exhibitors read on!
Brodart (www.books.brodart.com) has a marvelous setup for their customers. They not only have good insider information about FIL, but they also will help you manage your budget, make your purchases, ship your purchases, and in general guide your purchases by tailoring them to your needs. Best of all, they will purchase for you off the floor any material you want if they can’t get it from their own warehouse. If you use Brodart, contact them before going!
McGraw-Hill(www.mcgraw-hill.com.mx) is another great publisher/jobber for your use at FIL. Amidst their many translations, the really work to connect you with what you need. Specialties they seem to have include high level science, engineering, business texts, and many children’s books. Representatives from McGraw-Hill will visit your library and work with you before and after you visit FIL. They have many catalogs in these and other areas for your use also.
Thomson (http://www.thomson.com/solutions/learning/) has a variety of materials geared by either study level or subject. They are mainly translations and quite scholarly, but do include high school materials.
Anaya (www.anayainfantilyjuvenil.com) has many educational books that will work for both young readers through high school. Many of these are translations of English works, but well done and picturesque.
SaraJordan is a small press that does interesting educational audio work – songs, lyrics, resource books. The URL for this company is www.SongsThatTeach.com. They specialize in bilingual materials as well as early learning materials. A company from New York, they will work with you on your needs in your library using their materials.
Granmark SA (www.granmark.com.mx) is just plain fun! This company has paper books that range from cartoon characters to Disney. Usability quality is limited due to their construction, but they offer some fun and relevant character information and graphics to children.
Great Moments Publishing (www.gairet.com.mx) is another “fun” publisher of children’s materials that are mainly translations of English language materials. Appealing to the child and early young adult, these materials vary from coloring books to graphic novels.
Random House Mondadori (http://www.randomhousemondadori.es/eng/index.htm) is great on translations of significant English language works. These can be ordered straight from Random House in the US. Random House offers reads from translated Danielle Steele to many YA translations. Many of the Allende books are available through them. AND they have MOUSE – the graphic novel so well liked by English YAs in SPANISH!
Google had a significant presence at FIL – and it is partnering with a company called Ediciones B to find many books in Spanish that will serve more than the Mexican audience. Using Google to find them, a librarian can have access to over 1200 titles to choose from. See http://google.es/editor for more information.
Cerlalc (www.cerlalc.org) is a book center for materials from Latin America, South America and Spain/Portugal areas. Not a publisher, Cerlalc will work with libraries to provide strong reference services regarding reading in Spanish, helping governments in their mission to provide access to the best in political, philosophical, and many other projects/programs that involve reading.
Grupo Editorial Diana (www.diana.com.mx) is a corporation representing the work of various publishers in Central America, South America and Spain. They list materials by topic, but most of what they offer is high level language materials and not for the casual Spanish-language reader.
Making the most of your trip to FIL:
1. Know which tools are the right ones for you. Going to one source doesn’t take full advantage of the variety of sources FIL will offer. Choose several vendors that work for you. Base this selection not only on the resources they offer, but also the service and speed with which they offer these resources.
2. Be aware that FIL offers mainly book resources. There is an assortment of Spanish-language non book resources that can be found online or otherwise. Research is showing that audiovisual material are very popular with Spanish-language library users.
3. Out-of-print is a non-issue on the floor of FIL, but can be an issue if not immediately purchased for your library. If you find something essential and can’t wait, or worry about its arrival, buy it and take it with you! You have the choice of shipping internationally, carrying it back in your luggage, using a jobber present at FIL, or potentially other ideas.
4. Cataloging and processing are up to you and potentially your jobber/distributor. Plan accordingly.
5. FIL is where you will find the new releases and new talents in Spanish-language publishing. Attending puts you ahead of the curve on selection.
6. Building a Spanish-language collection gets easier every year. As more publishers recognize this audience potential, there will be more Spanish-language publications.
7. FIL brings together many literary personalities that present a variety of topics to those attending FIL. Nobel prize winners for literature are often present to speak at FIL events.
