The rapid growth of ethnic populations in the USA puts knowledge about those groups at a premium. Whether or not library patrons seek, know about, or consult reference sources increasingly depends on their internet availability. To meet these needs, Greenwood Publishing Group is launching the American Mosaic family of databases comprising four distinct subsets of which The Latino American Experience (LAE) is one. The others include the already released African American Experience, previously reviewed in these columns (RR 2008/187), and databases on American Indians and Asian Americans, both still to be released at the time of writing.
LAE specializes in Latino history and culture. It includes ready‐reference and in‐depth articles from over 150 reference works on Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, and the Iberian Peninsula. It also provides primary documents from a variety of sources, some 3,500 images, a timeline, teacher resources, materials in Spanish, and links to over 200 vetted web sites. The inclusion of online resources increases LAE's scope and usefulness, especially for images and primary sources. Joining Greenwood's editorial team are a distinguished advisory board of public and academic scholar‐librarians and library administrators, active in Latino library organizations and authors or editor of numerous books on Latino culture, language and socioeconomic issues. The noted Latino culture scholar Ilan Stavans is Advisory Editor and hosts En mi opinión, a blog on current Latino issues. LAE reflects careful planning and respect for users' information needs, and encourages the exchange of ideas.
Topical coverage is comprehensive, though perhaps stronger in humanities and social sciences than the sciences. Some two‐thirds of the digitized reference sources were published in 2000 or later. Main topics include: Arts and Entertainment; Business and Labor; Folklore and Customs; History; Icons; Immigration; Literature; Music; Organizations; Politics, Law and Civil Rights; Religion; Science and Medicine; Sports; and Women. Information on immigration and labour history, folklore and customs, are welcome. Traditional and modern music, the arts, and popular performers are also key features.
Major organizational components include keyword/Boolean searching and a well‐organized Browse feature. Appearance of the browse and search functions is clear and consistent, with well‐written help features prominently displayed. The browse function and the subject index feature three columns, with the index and sub‐topics. Search results are listed in numeric order on the right, though the articles themselves are password protected. Results include all types of sources. Articles from the various encyclopedias are signed and have lists of further readings and a note on “how to cite”. Special features, some only accessible to subscribers, are linked to the home page and add to the attraction of LAE. They include a timeline, an index for the numerous images, a classroom resources centre, and the Origins section featuring the historical and cultural background of the American and European peoples making up today's US Latino population. Landmark Documents provides links to key online sources, emphasizing Mexican American history and including quotations, speeches, letters, maps, and laws, cases and treaties. Access to the text of some special features of LAE is restricted, but many appear to be freely searchable.
Recommended for individual researchers, secondary school, public and academic libraries, especially those serving Latino populations, museums and archives with Latin American focus.
