Hispanic population rising in Central Oregon
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10:57 AM PDT
BEND (AP) — When Luz Reyes moved to Central Oregon last year from Salem, she was surprised at the lack of diversity in the area.
‘‘Wow, I’m the only bean in a field of rice,’’ she said. Though she found everyone welcoming at Central Oregon Community College where she studies nursing, she still felt a little left out.
‘‘You’re pretty much on your own in terms of diversity,’’ she said. Reyes, 20, is part of a growing population of Hispanics in Deschutes County who are changing the fabric of the area. From libraries to police, agencies are adapting to more diversity in the area and an influx of Spanish speakers.
According to U.S. census data released this month, the number of Hispanics in Deschutes County has more than doubled since 2000, jumping from 4,396 to 10,338. The number of Hispanics is growing faster than the general population of Deschutes County, which grew by 41,843, or 36 percent, from 2000 to 2008. The Deschutes Public Library system has seen an increase in the Latino community visiting its branches mainly in Redmond and Bend, said Todd Dunkelberg, the library system director. As a result, the library has a selection of Spanish-language books, videos, magazines and newspapers for users. But there are some challenges to adapting to a growing Spanish-speaking population.
‘‘It’s not about letting them know we have resources, but letting them know there are free resources available to them in their own language,’’ Dunkelberg said. Along with information, people want to feel welcome at the library, Dunkelberg said.
‘‘The biggest challenge is being able to have enough bilingual people on staff to be able to greet them and make them feel welcome when they come in,’’ Dunkelberg said. In 2007, the library received a Library Services and Technology Grant. Some of the money was used to add a half-time position largely focused on expanding outreach to the Latino population, and as a result, the system has gotten computer classes in Spanish going for residents.
