Paul V. Galvin Library has been selected to receive a competitive Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA). As one of 203 grant recipients selected from across the country, Galvin Library will receive a cash grant of $3,000 to hold public programming — such as public film screenings, lectures, discussion groups, oral history initiatives, local history exhibitions, or performances — about Latino history and culture.

Galvin Library will also receive the six-part, NEH-supported documentary film “Latino Americans,” created for PBS in 2013 by WETA public television station. The award-winning series chronicles the history of Latinos in the United States from the 16th century to present day. Learn more about the series at www.pbs.org/latino-americans/en/.

Programs are being planned for the fall and spring semesters with a variety of speakers from the IIT community and beyond. The Latino Americans funding will enable Galvin Library to focus on our own diversity while also exploring the Latino neighborhoods in Chicago. Latino Americans are the country’s largest minority group, with more than 50 million people, and Galvin Library wants to increase community awareness of the rich and varied history and culture with this opportunity to explore this history.

Events will be promoted in IIT Today, or follow Galvin Library on our blog , on twitter @GalvinLibrary or on Facebook for more information. The Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grantees represent 42 states and the District of Columbia, and include 78 public libraries, 68 college/university libraries and organizations, 19 community college libraries, 10 state humanities councils, 12 museums and a range of other nonprofit organizations. View a full list of the recipients.

Latino Americans: 500 Years of History is part of an NEH initiative, The Common Good: The Humanities in the Public Square. Latino Americans: 500 Years of History has been made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

This event reflects the values expressed in IIT’s Diversity Statement and is intended to promote diversity at IIT.