UH Libraries Strengthens Hispanic Collections
In 2012, the University of Houston was designated as an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education. It is one of three Tier One public research universities in the nation with this designation, and the first such Texas institution.
The University of Houston Libraries, in its commitment to student success, has created a key position, Hispanic Collections archivist, that will serve the teaching, learning and research needs of a diverse population.
Lisa Cruces joins UH Libraries in this role designed to document the influence of Hispanic history and culture in Houston.
She will work with the directors of Arte Público Press, the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Project, individuals and organizations to strengthen collections and promote visibility through exhibitions and programs. In addition to managing archival material, Cruces will provide classroom instruction, reference service and web-based access tools for users of the collections.
“I’m so excited to have a Hispanic Collections archivist coming on board,” said Pat Bozeman, Emily Scott Evans Endowed Professor and Head of Special Collections. “UH Libraries needs to be in the forefront of actively collecting and preserving the history and culture of Houston’s Hispanic community.”
Cruces joins UH Libraries’ Special Collections from the University of Notre Dame’s Hesburgh Libraries. She received her MSIS with a specialization in archives and academic librarianship from the University of Texas in 2012.
“Cruces brings to the position a background in and a passion for Hispanic studies,” said Mary Manning, university archivist. “Her energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge put her in an excellent place to strengthen and develop the University of Houston’s burgeoning Hispanic Collections.”
Cruces is a member of the American Library Association (ALA), the Society of American Archivists and the Society of Indiana Archivists. She has received numerous awards, including the ALA – Association of College and Research Libraries Librarian Scholarship. Her most recent presentation at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Southwest Archivists was titled A Case Study of Archives in Central America: El Archivo Nacional de Panamá.