The Boeckmann Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies, part of the Specialized Libraries and Archival Collections is located currently in the East Library (which holds the core Iberian, Latin American and Chicano/Latino reference collection and specialized microfilm/fiche collections, and the rare and fragile archival and non-circulating materials from the 18th to 21st centuries, such as the 10,000 Latin American pamphlet collection).

The Hancock Institute of Oceanography and its library on campus have had a long interest in Latin America and contain many interesting publications in natural and marine sciences and unique scientific records of expeditions to Central America and the west coast of South America.

Although USC collects materials from across the region and from other countries about the region, historic strengths are in 19th and 20th century Mexico and Central America, and Cuba and an emerging collection on the Cubans in California, which includes archival materials, books and serials and newspapers. Also in the past decade we acquired a specialized collection on Brazilian economic history.