Initially proposed as the “Lexington Public Library’s Biblioteca Hispana,” the Village Branch opened in 2004 with a modest beginning—six employees in a former auto parts store. But the vision was clear: to establish a specialized branch in Cardinal Valley that aligned with the Library’s Core Values of Diversity and Equity of Access.
This vision was underscored by a desire to better serve Lexington’s Hispanic population through a more culturally sensitive library tailored specifically to their needs. The initial proposal, along with two grant-related documents from its early years, were obtained through an Open Records Request in 2019.
Recognizing the challenges the Library faced in reaching Lexington’s growing Latino community, it was understood that the existing Biblioteca Hispana, led by Susy Aparicio, had successfully established a strong foundation of trust within the Hispanic community—something the public library had yet to achieve. The partnership with Biblioteca Hispana was seen as an opportunity to expand services, increase the library's collection, and develop new programs to meet the community's needs.
The importance of bilingual staff who could understand and relate to the cultural background of the Hispanic community was also emphasized, with plans specifically focused on hiring such staff.
These elements made the branch an immediate success, praised by the press, the library’s administration, nonprofit partners, and, most importantly, the neighborhood community.
A year after its opening, the Village Branch had become more than just a library; it had evolved into a de facto community center. The Herald-Leader highlighted this transformation in a 2005 article titled “Who Speaks for the Hispanics?” noting that the small strip mall library was filled with children playing on computers after school and adults seeking help with immigration or employment issues.
Branch manager Betty Abdmishani estimates there are at least 20 inquiries a day that have nothing to do with a traditional library's services.
“It's not 'What book should I read’’ They're more daily living questions. You get some serious ones," she said.
Last week, two women trying to rent an apartment came in confused why they hadn't received the key after paying the application fee, Abdmishani said. Staff members sorted out the misunderstanding by calling the apartment managers.
Staff try to help people as best they can, but when the questions get too technical, they refer them to the Maxwell Legal Clinic or the Cardinal Valley Center, she said.
The Library’s administration recognized the positive impact the branch was having and used its success to secure additional resources for expanding the mission. A grant request to the Knight Foundation in December 2005 emphasized the branch's role as a central hub for the Hispanic community in Lexington, highlighting its bilingual staff, culturally relevant programs, and the growing demand for services.
Among its notable successes were increased library attendance, with over 20,000 visitors in the first year, successful literacy programs like Boogie Bees and the Prime Time Family Reading Time program, and a variety of cultural events that fostered a sense of community. However, the branch faced ongoing challenges, particularly the need for more bilingual staff to meet the increasing demands.
By 2008, Village had grown in staffing and opening hours, with foot traffic more than tripling to 68,000 visitors. The expansion continued as LPL seized the opportunity to lease additional space in the strip mall, more than doubling the branch’s square footage. Despite these expansions, the branch maintained a nearly all-bilingual staff, ensuring that Spanish-speaking residents received the services they needed.
This commitment to bilingual staffing paid off, with visits skyrocketing to nearly a quarter million by 2011. However, around this time, under a new Library administration, some internal voices began to raise concerns about the branch's distinct approach. These concerns found a sympathetic ear, and the administration began to scale back the community center aspect of the Village Branch that had been so warmly received by the neighborhood.
Longtime staff members were reassigned to other branches in moves to make staffing and management more uniform across the system. The focus shifted away from the community’s needs to administrative expediency, resulting in fewer bilingual hires and reduced training opportunities for Spanish and cultural outreach.
When Betty retired in 2018, the Library’s administration did not select one of the candidates who would have continued the branch’s original mission. Instead, they appointed a preferred candidate who had not initially applied for the position. While this librarian was a skilled and dedicated professional, she was placed in a role that was not aligned with her predecessor’s approach, a decision that appeared intentional.
This change did not sit well with the staff and community, leading the library administration to acknowledge the need for a Spanish-speaking manager at the Village Branch. A memo sent to all Library staff in 2019 announced a nationwide search for a suitable candidate.
This search resulted in the appointment of Village’s third manager, who resigned abruptly during planning for what would become the new Marksbury Family Branch. The Library’s administration has since cited this chapter as a reason for preferring internal candidates for manager positions. It is worth noting, however, that Betty Abdmishani was herself an external candidate when she was hired.
Another internal manager was eventually appointed, but the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought additional challenges to all libraries. While other branches briefly reopened in late 2020, the Village Branch remained closed. When it finally reopened in 2021, traffic had dropped to less than a quarter of its peak. Village’s traffic continued to erode even as other branches slowly recovered, most nearing their pre-pandemic levels (Central being a troubling exception).
The opening of the new Marksbury Branch has also brought traffic back to Village’s pre-pandemic levels, but it has not reached the heights Village experienced during its period of full bilingual staffing and leadership. Some have referred to the new branch as “Central for people who don’t want to go downtown,” raising concern that the library, which began as an outreach initiative for the Latino community, has become more of a destination for commuters.
Looking ahead, the board and administration have a crucial choice: to reconnect the Marksbury Family Branch with its original mission or let it drift further from its roots. By prioritizing bilingual staff, cultural programming, and true community engagement, they can restore the library as a vital resource and gathering place for the Hispanic community.
Residents are encouraged to voice their support for La Biblioteca Hispana by contacting Heather Dieffenbach or by attending the upcoming board meeting at the Central Library, August 14th at 4:30 pm.
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Press Coverage for La Biblioteca Hispana / Village
Links require a Lexington Public Library card for access
Ku, M (2002) 'HISPANIC LIBRARY OPENS TODAY - BOOKS FOR CHILDREN ARE FOCUS FOR NOW', Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), 11 Jul, p. B1, (online NewsBank).
Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) (2002) 'EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK', 13 Jul, p. A12, (online NewsBank).
Ku, M (2004) 'LIBRARY TO OPEN CARDINAL VALLEY BRANCH - FACILITY WILL ACQUIRE BIBLIOTECA HISPANA'S BOOKS', Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), 16 Mar, p. B1, (online NewsBank).
Staff Report, H (2004) 'MAKING READING A FAMILY EVENT - BILINGUAL LIBRARY PROGRAM PROMOTES LITERACY AT HOME', Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), 8 Sep, p. D1, (online NewsBank).
Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) (2004) 'IT TAKES A VILLAGE BRANCH - YES, IT'S OPEN NEW LIBRARY CATERS TO LEXINGTON'S DIVERSE COMMUNITY', 19 Sep, p. C3, (online NewsBank).
Marr, E (2005) 'VILLAGE BRANCH A BIG HIT WITH PATRONS - ONE YEAR OLD, LIBRARY PLAYS VITAL ROLE IN LARGELY SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY', Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), 14 Sep, p. D1, (online NewsBank).
Lannen, S (2005) 'WHO SPEAKS FOR HISPANICS? - IMMIGRANTS IN LEXINGTON OFTEN SEE NO ONE AS THEIR ADVOCATE', Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), 28 Nov, p. A1, (online NewsBank).
Column by Pablo Alcala, P (2006) 'NUESTRO KENTUCKY - GIVING IT A WHIRL', Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), 13 Dec, p. E1, (online NewsBank).
Ogawa, J (2007) 'PRE-SCHOOLERS LEARNING SPANISH - NEVER TOO EARLY BILINGUAL EDUCATION BECOMING POPULAR WITH PARENTS', Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), 10 Apr, p. B1, (online NewsBank).
