REFORMA

REFORMA, or The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, is an ALA affiliate that was established in 1971 to act as a professional support organization for librarians who serve Hispanic populations.  Today there are 21 chapters across the country who share common goals of:

• "Development of Spanish-language and Latino-oriented library collections
• Recruitment of bilingual, multicultural library personnel
• Promotion of public awareness of libraries and librarianship among Latinos
• Advocacy on behalf of the information needs of the Latino community
• Liaison to other professional organizations"

In order to meet those goals, REFORMA has various initiatives in place:

• Newsletter: A great way to keep up to date with programming trends and general news relating to Spanish-language library services.

• Scholarships and Awards: REFORMA usually offers multiple scholarships each year to Library Science students who are interested in serving Spainish-speaking populations. They also offer a Librarian of the Year Award as well as a Lifetime Achievement award.

• Pura Belpré Awards: Named for Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in the NYPL system who was also an inspiring storyteller and children's author, the award is presented annually to a Latino/a author and illustrator whose work "best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth." The Award is co-sponsored with the Association for Library Service to Children and lists of current and past winners can serve as a valuable collection development tool for Spanish-language and culture children's materials.

• Noche de Cuentos Mini-Grant: I plan on doing an entire post on this family literacy initiative developed by REFORMA, but basically, the event is celebrated yearly in conjunction with World Storytelling Day. Storytelling workshops and events are used as a tool to promote the preservation of culture as well as develop literacy skills. REFORMA offers grants to libraries across the country who want to put on Noche de Cuentos programming.

• Mentoring program: “Seasoned librarians” with a wealth of experience serving Latino populations are paired with less experienced librarians interested in bettering the Spanish-language services at their library. The program is a two year commitment.

• Conferences and Workshops: In April of 2015 REFORMA will be hosting their national conference in San Diego, titled “Libraries With Out Borders: Creating our Future.” The organization also has a presence at regular ALA conferences, where they hold meetings, announce the Pura Belpré winners, and host workshops and informational sessions.

• Resources: The site has a great collection of resources, including a well-curated section for Spanish-language youth services.

The benefits of the REFORMA support system are clear with even just a brief introductory browsing of the website; I definitely plan on getting involved in the organization in my future professional life!